Clarinet and Saxophone Day
Clarinet and Saxophone Day 2026
Sunday, Jan. 25 2026
Participation
Location
Western University
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Join us for a day dedicated to exploring, learning, and celebrating everything clarinet and saxophone! Musicians of all levels are invited to take part in this exciting event, hosted by professors Bobbi Thompson and Jana Starling, alongside exceptional guest artists and leading equipment exhibitors. Enjoy performances, classes, and playing activities throughout the day. Registration details coming soon online.
Registration
Cost and registration coming soon
HST number: 10816 2587 RT0001
Planned Schedule
Exact scheduling TBD.
Guest Artists
We're proud to welcome Daniel Gilbert and Dan Graser as this year's guest artists.
Daniel Gilbert
Professor of Clarinet
University of Michigan
Clarinetist Daniel Gilbert holds the position of Professor of Clarinet the at the University of Michigan. Previously, he served as Second Clarinet in the Cleveland Orchestra from 1995 to 2007. Mr. Gilbert also serves as principal clarinet of the CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and he is on the faculty of Case Western Reserve University. In the summers, Mr. Gilbert serves as Principal Clarinet of the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and as a faculty member of the Brevard Music Festival. He is also Principal Clarinet of the Classical Tahoe Festival Orchestra.
A native of New York City, Mr. Gilbert received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and both a Master of Music degree and Professional Studies Certificate from The Juilliard School. Prior to joining the Cleveland Orchestra, Mr. Gilbert was an active freelancer in New York City, appearing regularly with groups including: The Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theater, New Jersey Symphony, Solisti New York, Stamford Symphony and the New Haven Symphony, where he played principal clarinet from 1992 to 1995. Mr. Gilbert was a member of the Quintet of the Americas in 1994-1995. The group toured throughout the United States and was in residence at Northwestern University.
Mr. Gilbert is an artist/Clinician for the Buffet Group USA and the Vandoren Corporation and he has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia appearing as a recitalist and clinician. His concerts and master classes have received critical acclaim. Mr. Gilbert’s teachers have included: David Weber, Robert Marcellus, Richard Waller, Burt Hara and Judith Kalin-Freeman. Mr. Gilbert plays exclusively on Buffet and Vandoren products.
Dan Graser
Soprano Chair
Sinta Quartet
Described by The Saxophonist Magazine as being "in rarefied air possessing world-class musicianship and super-human technique," Dan Graser is one of the most active performers and pedagogues of his generation. A recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, Dan served as Teaching Assistant to legendary saxophone pedagogue Donald Sinta having completed undergraduate work in performance and music history/theory with saxophone virtuoso Timothy McAllister at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
As soprano chair of the world-renowned Sinta Quartet, Dan has been featured internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. SQ are among the most successful ensembles on the chamber music competition circuit having received the Gold Medal of the Fischoff Chamber Competition, 1st Prize of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition (the first time awarded to a saxophone group), 1st Prize in the M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, the Alice Coleman Grand Prize at the Coleman Competition and 1st Prize at the North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition. SQ have performed throughout the world and were the featured soloists with the Michigan Symphony Band during an historic tour through China. General Arts Touring manages SQ internationally. Their recordings can be heard on the CAG and Bright Shiny Things labels. www.sintaquartet.com
As a soloist, Dan has been featured with the GVSU Symphony Orchestra, GVSU Concert Band, University of Michigan Symphony Band, Oakland Wind Symphony, Crane Wind Ensemble, South Oakland Concert Band and in recital at the Kennedy Center as part of the Millennium Stage series. His current solo projects include expanding the soprano saxophone and piano repertoire with piano virtuoso Brian Hsu. As an orchestral performer, Dan has performed on numerous occasions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin. For several years Dan was the saxophonist with the New World Symphony in Miami under Michael Tilson Thomas, Teddy Abrams, John Adams, and J.D. Gersen. Dan has also performed as saxophonist with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Peninsula Music Festival, Kalamazoo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Royal Oak Symphony, as well as the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra.
A highly sought-after pedagogue, Dan is the author of the Saxophone Manual and Chops series of method books, which are now in use by thousands of saxophonists throughout the world in both the jazz and classical realms. Dan has given master class performances and clinics at numerous schools throughout the world including the Paris Conservatory, Shanghai Conservatory, Beijing Central Conservatory, China Conservatory, Versailles Conservatory, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina Greensboro, West Virginia University, and Oakland University. Dan has also held teaching positions at Oakland University, Ann Arbor School for the Performing Arts, and the Expressions Music Academy. For more information about the GVSU saxophone studio please visit: www.gvsu-saxophone.com
Dan is a Selmer Paris Artist and performs on Selmer Saxophones exclusively, and is a Légère Reeds Endorsing Artist.
Sponsors
TBA
Contact Information
Sasha Gorbasew
519-611-2111 x80532
agorbase@uwo.ca
Jana Starling
jstarli@uwo.ca
Bobbi Thompson
bthomp24@uwo.ca
