Interview With the University Professors
I had wanted to have a video interview with a cross-section of multiple woodwind professors throughout the U.S. for quite a while. Earlier this year I mentioned my desire to create such a forum to discuss the teaching of multiple woodwinds at the university level to my friend, John Cipolla. John is a well-established doubler and university professor for many years and offered his thoughts on who might be interesting individuals to interview for this project. As a result, I was able to put together this video interview with several illustrious colleagues–Gary Whitman, Greg Tardy, and John. During Part I, we talk about their musical beginnings, influences and heroes, how they came to obtain their university positions, and approaches to woodwind instruction. We hope you will find this interview captivating and helpful and tune into Part II next month.
*Opening panel audio track:
Pat Williams Concerto in Swing, mvt. 3—Gary Whitman, clarinet
About the Artists
John Cipolla has been the professor of clarinet and saxophone at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY for the past 21 years. John grew up in Edison, NJ and established himself as a top multiple woodwind player in NYC over several decades. He was a successful doubler in many Broadway musicals including Cats and Shogun as well as a tenured member of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra for 20+ years. John has written many pedagogical publications and recorded/edited/compiled two essential projects dealing with the compositions of clarinetist Carl Baermann—”The Virtuoso Clarinetist” and “The Art of Clarinet.” He has also been an important contributor to the success of The International Clarinet Association (ICA) and served as President of that organization. John is an in-demand international recitalist, clinician, adjudicator, and chamber music performer.
Gary Whitman is a recently retired university professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX where he served as the Chair of Woodwinds during his long tenure. In 2009, TCU awarded him the Chancellor’s Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar. In addition to the single reeds, Gary also is an accomplished oboe doubler. He has been the bass clarinetist/clarinetist with the Fort Worth Symphony for the past 31 years and has presented recitals and masterclasses throughout the United States, as well as Mexico, Peru, Belgium, Puerto Rico, China and Cuba. A former President of the ICA, Mr. Whitman is an artist-clinician for Buffet Crampon, Inc. and D’Addario Woodwinds.
Multi-reedist and composer Greg Tardy has been the professor of jazz saxophone at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for the last 14 years. During his tenure there, he has created a highly successful jazz curriculum.
Greg is also an accomplished clarinet player having initially trained to be an orchestral clarinetist. A native of New Orleans, Greg has played and/or recorded with such international jazz luminaries as Elvin Jones, Andrew Hill, Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas, Nicholas Payton, Bill Frisell, Wynton Marsalis, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Brian Lynch, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, etc. He has recorded 15 CDs as a leader and has been a frequent choice of critics as a rising star in Downbeat Magazine polls. Please visit his website at www.GregoryTardy.com.