Artist Profile: Gary Gray
Clarinetist Gary Gray is appearing on his 32nd concert with Pacific Serenades next month. His tenure has spanned every season since the very first in 1987. “There have been many special and pleasurable Pacific Serenades moments over the years. When thinking about particular pieces, two of Mark Carlson’s works have really touched me,” Gary shared with me. “From their premieres to later performances, I am very close to Hall of Mirrors for clarinet and piano and his Quartet for flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, cello, and piano.”
I first met Gary when I arrived at UCLA to begin my MFA in conducting in 1993. Gary was generous enough to allow me to study clarinet with him, though he wasn’t required to offer me lessons because of my program of study. Through the years I was able to study with Gary, I learned and performed The Hall of Mirrors, which remains one of my favorite works for clarinet.
“The Hall of Mirrors has a diverse range and sub-text of emotions which has helped make it a very popular piece around the global clarinet community,” Gary said. “I performed it at the International Clarinet Association Annual Festival in 2005 and it was done again at last summer’s Festival by Gary Whitman. Mark’s Quartet has also been a hit with both professionals and students,” Gary added.
As Pacific Serenades has premiered so many works over the last 26 seasons, Gary has fond memories of two other pieces that have found a niche in the standard repertoire. “Another favorite Pacific Serenades commission is Robert Aldridge’s Three Folk Songs for clarinet and string quartet. We premiered it in 1993 and performed it at our Carnegie Hall concert in 1994. The 3rd movement in particular has had a special after-life of its own,” Gary explained. “Called Latin Jazz-Dance, it’s been performed at the Chamber Music America annual meeting in 2002 by Eddie Daniels. David Singer also included it on his new CD this past year. I performed the complete Quintet at the International Clarinet Association last summer with the original quartet of Roger Wilkie, Connie Kupka, Roland Kato, and David Speltz, and it was a hit yet again!”
“Pacific Serenade by Miguel Del Aguila for clarinet and string quartet is another favorite commission of mine. It’s been published and performed by other ensembles on many occasions,” Gary said. “And both the Aldridge and Del Aguila works are on our Border Crossings CD, so there are even more new fans of these works now!”
Memorable experiences while playing with Pacific Serenades include, of course, the composers and musicians. It began for Gary by first collaborating with Mark Carlson. “It’s common knowledge that chamber music is my first love as a musician,” Gary shared. “Pacific Serenades came about as a unique chamber series, it was my good luck to be involved from the beginning. I met Mark not long before our first season, when I performed a work of his at UCLA. We were simpatico from the beginning.”
“My musical colleagues in Pacific Serenades, such as Connie Kupka, David Speltz, Roger Wilkie, Miwako Watanabe, and Roland Kato, were all friends and musical partners before the series began. Our relationships have continued to grow during the ensuing years. Our rehearsals continue to be work and fun in equal mix, and we always try to include some good food after most rehearsals!” Gary said.
“Some of my favorite pianists have been Joanne Pearce Martin and Akye Agus. They’ve become local icons of piano playing, as well as collaborative piano playing. All these musicians are examples of great artists in this city who play for Pacific Serenades,” Gary said.
“It’s also a fringe benefit as a Pacific Serenades musician that we get to meet and make friends with so many wonderful audience members,” Gary went on to add. “And it makes it more special because of the venues at which we perform. It’s a wonderful situation to play chamber music in private homes, which may be the ideal setting for the most intimate of musical creations. Composers have traditionally utilized such small ensembles to convey their deepest musical thoughts and feelings, especially since they know the audience will be up close and personal.”
Visit Gary’s website to learn more: www.clarinetbygray.com.
