Five clarinet students from UNC Charlotte were selected through blind peer review to attend and perform at the Music by Women Festival at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi. The sixth annual international Music by Women Festival will be held March 3-5 and will feature concerts of music written by contemporary and historic women composers.
The students, who study with Dr. Jessica Lindsey, are Kenan Boswell, Gavin Fulker, Sadie McNair, May Smith, and Wyatt Stocks. Together they will perform Kwong Song, an ensemble work by Elena Kats-Chernin (b.1957), a Soviet-born Australian pianist and composer.
In addition, three of the students – McNair, Smith, and Stocks – submitted solo works for performance and have been programmed at the festival. McNair will perform Divertimento for Solo Clarinet by Mexican composer Gabriella Ortiz (b.1964). Smith will perform Ode to Odessa by Eva Wasserman-Margolis (b.1956), an Israeli-American clarinetist and composer. Stocks will perform Set for Clarinet by flutist/composer Katherine Hoover (1937-2018).
Kenan Boswell is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Boswell has performed on the bass clarinet with the UNC Charlotte’s Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Clarinet Choir.
Gavin Fulker is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music He has performed in the clarinet section in a variety of ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra, an has marched with the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band on Drumline and as Drum Major.
Sadie McNair is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a minor in Spanish. At UNC Charlotte, McNair has performed in the Student Spotlight concert, as part of the Wind Ensemble, and as a Clarinet Section Leader in the Pride of Niner Nation Marching Band.
May Smith is a sophomore pursing a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance. Smith is a performing member of UNC Charlotte’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Clarinet Choir.
Wyatt Stocks is a pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance. He has performed in the UNC Charlotte Wind Ensemble and the St. John’s Reformed Church choir and is currently the pianist/organist for St. John’s Reformed Church.
Pictured above: Clarinet students with their professor, Dr. Jessica Lindsey.