Clarinet Day doesn’t have a special place on the yearly calendar but it is a very important day for those who play the woodwind instrument and at Troy University

Clarinet Day at Troy University has a dual purpose.

It is a recruiting tool for the university as high school clarinet students have an opportunity to see what it’s like to play clarinet at Troy University. It is also an opportunity for university clarinet students to learn from the guest artists and from the experience of helping run such an event, said Dr. Timothy Phillips, Troy University professor of clarinet.

Clarinet Day will be on Saturday, March 27 but will actually get under way at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26, with the guest artists/faculty concert at Hawkins Adams Long Hall.

Featured guests artists will be David Etheridge, clarinet professor at the University of Oklahoma, and Gene Ramsbottom, clarinet professor from the University of British Columbia.

Wojtek Komsta, a Polish professional clarinet player and clarinet repairman, from New York City, will be a guest clinician. The Proha Clarinet Quartet, the graduate clarinet quartet from the University of Illinois, will also perform.

“Nathan Brandwein, a pianist who is finishing his doctoral degree in collaborative piano at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, will provide the piano accompaniment for the concert,” Phillips said. “This guest artists/faculty concert is a big deal and it’s free and open to the public. We encourage those who enjoy music played by outstanding musicians, especially clarinetists, to attend.”

On Saturday, Clarinet Day will begin at 9 a.m. at the Troy University Band Building next to Smith Hall with high school and university clarinet players participating.

“We have more high school clarinet students participating this year than in the past two years,” Phillips said. “We have around 40 students from high schools in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. We’ll also have 25 Troy University clarinet students to participate. The students will attend master classes throughout the day and rehearsals for the big clarinet choir that will perform Saturday night.”

At 5:30 p.m., the clarinet choir and the guest artists will perform at the Band Building and the public is invited to attend. There is no charge for the concert.

Capitol Music from Montgomery will be on campus and have clarinets and other items for sale. Buffet Crampon, the world’s oldest and most famous clarinet-making company, will also have a display.

“Buffet Crampon has provided funding for Clarinet Day and we are very appreciative of that,” Phillips said. “It’s going to be exciting day for those who play the clarinet and those who enjoy it featured in concert. We invite the public to join us for both the Friday and Saturday night clarinet concerts.”

Students of the clarinet who are not participating in Clarinet Day will enjoy the concerts played by their favorite instrument.