Q&A with Stanley Drucker:

Stanley Drucker, Principal Clarinet
The Edna and W. Van Alan Clark Chair

THE FACTS: Born in Brooklyn, New York. Attended the High School of Music and Art and The Curtis Institute of Music. Prior to the Philharmonic: Principal clarinet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (age 16), the Adolf Busch Chamber Players (age 17), and the Buffalo Philharmonic (age 18). At the Philharmonic: Joined in 1948 at age 19. Made solo debut with the Orchestra in 1961, performing Debussy’s Clarinet Rhapsody conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Performed solos with the New York Philharmonic more than 150 times.

MOST RECENT RECORDING: Drucker Plays Brahms on the Elysium label. Recordings with the Philharmonic as soloist: Debussy Clarinet Rhapsody; Nielsen Clarinet Concerto; John Corigliano’s Clarinet Concerto (a New York Philharmonic Commission); Copland’s Clarinet Concerto; and the William Bolcom Clarinet Concerto — a New York Philharmonic 150th Anniversary Commission.

EARLIEST MUSICAL MEMORY: I remember hearing a roving clarinetist playing Klezmer music in my backyard.

BEGAN INSTRUMENT AT AGE: Ten

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE CLARINET? My parents chose it. It was a birthday gift for my tenth birthday.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO BE A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN? I guess when I passed the point of no return. Probably by age 12.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT IN MORE THAN 50 YEARS WITH THE PHILHARMONIC: Performing the world premiere of John Corigliano’s Clarinet Concerto with Bernstein conducting in 1977

MOST INSPIRING COMPOSER: For the clarinet, probably Mozart

DO YOU EVER GET NERVOUS BEFORE A CONCERT? I feel that each performance is a new experience. It gets the adrenaline going.

IF YOU COULD PLAY ANOTHER INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’d become a conductor.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A CONCERT? You’re in a constant state of readiness!

DO YOU PERFORM IN OTHER GROUPS? I perform chamber music, and as a soloist with other orchestras.

WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY DO? My wife, Naomi Drucker, is a clarinetist; my daughter Rosanne is a singer and songwriter; my son Leon (aka Lee Rocker) is a bass player, singer, and songwriter.

WHAT’S IN YOUR CD PLAYER RIGHT NOW? My son’s new CD, Racin’ the Devil, and my wife Naomi in an all-Peter Schickele CD with her American Chamber Ensemble

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN YOU GO ON TOUR? Visiting new and familiar places, and giving those audiences something to remember

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR SUMMER VACATIONS? Piloting my 30-foot cabin cruiser to Nantucket and Block Island

Updated May 2006

There are no solo or chamber performances currently scheduled for this musician.