Stanley Drucker
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| Stanley Drucker | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 4, 1929 Brooklyn, New York |
| Origin | Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
| Instrument(s) | Clarinet |
| Years active | 1948 to present |
| Associated acts | Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra New York Philharmonic |
Stanley Drucker (born 4 February 1929, Brooklyn, New York) is an American clarinetist. He began clarinet studies at age ten with Leon Russianoff. He attended the High School of Music & Art (now the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, at Lincoln Square). Drucker entered the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, but left Curtis after one year, recruited to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. After a year, he worked with the Busch Little Symphony, organized by Adolf Busch. He then became principal clarinetist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1948, Drucker won a post in the New York Philharmonic clarinet section. In 1960, he became the orchestra's principal clarinetist, where he has remained for the duration of his career. His time with the New York Philharmonic has included nearly 150 solo appearances with the orchestra. He gave the first performances of clarinet concerti by John Corigliano and William Bolcom, both of these commissions for the New York Philharmonic.[1] Drucker has appeared on two recordings of the Corigliano concerto, a studio recording conducted by Zubin Mehta and a live recording of the 1977 premiere performance conducted by Leonard Bernstein.[2]
In January 2008, the New York Philharmonic announced that Drucker would retire from the orchestra at the close of the 2008-2009 season, for a total of 61 years with the orchestra and 49 years as its principal clarinet. He is scheduled to perform the clarinet concerto of Aaron Copland, for the 65th time, in June 2009 in his final solo appearance with the orchestra.[3] Drucker is highly regarded for his musicianship and his longevity of service, such as expressed by Gustavo Dudamel in November 2007:
"He's a legend. The history of the orchestra is in him."[4]
Drucker is married to Naomi Drucker, former principal clarinetist of the North Carolina Symphony and current adjunct assistant professor of music at Hofstra University. They have two children, Leon, who is the double bassist for The Stray Cats under the stage name of "Lee Rocker", and Rosanne, an alternative-country singer-songwriter. Drucker has the distinction of being one of the few living orchestral musicians whose biography appears in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
[edit] References
- ^ Allan Kozinn. "Orchestra Celebrates Clarinetist's 50 Years", New York Times, 28 May 1998. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Allan Kozinn. "Feasting on Six Decades of the Philharmonic's Past", New York Times, 14 December 1997. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Daniel J. Wakin. "A Season for Big Works (and Two Grand Finales) at the Philharmonic", New York Times, 11 January 2008. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Daniel J. Wakin. "The Kid’s Got Energy. Now Watch Him Conduct.", New York Times, 30 November 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
[edit] External links
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