Darkwood
Darkwood
About this project
Clarinetist Laura Grantier is Assistant Professor of Clarinet and Woodwind Area Head at the University of Utah. She founded the 40-member ICA Utah Clarinet Choir in 2022 and established the U of U Woodwind Day in 2023.Prior to this appointment, she served as Director of Woodwinds at Southern Utah University from 2021-2022. While at SUU, she taught applied clarinet, woodwind methods, woodwind chamber ensembles, music appreciation, and theory. She founded the SUU Clarinet Quartet and SUU Woodwind Day in 2022. She co-founded the percussion/clarinet Darkwood Duo with Dr. Lynn Vartan which has performed at the 2022/2023 Utah Clarinet Festival, 2022 ICA New Music weekend and 2022/2023 ClarinetFest®. She is the Utah state chairperson for the International Clarinet Association and currently serves as Secretary for the ICA. From 1995-2021 she was a member of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. where she served as Principal Clarinet, Woodwind Leader, Clarinet Section Leader, and Clarinet Quartet Leader. She performed over 2,250 public concerts, military ceremonies, education workshops, and high-profile protocol engagements for high-ranking dignitaries, including the President of the United States, Vice President of the United States, and Secretary of the Navy. Dr. Grantier is a performing artist for Buffet-Crampon, Wes Rice, and Silverstein Works.
Clarinetist Dr. Jeremy W. Reynolds is Professor of Clarinet at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music.In addition to his faculty position he also serves as Assistant Principal Clarinet with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Reynolds has concertized for the International Clarinet Association’s ClarFest, ClariBogota, Clarimania (Poland), Cultural Festival of Portugal’s World Exposition, Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Festival, International Alliance for Women in Music, University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, International Double Reed Society, National Flute Convention, and the Great Southwest Flute Fest. Equally in demand in an orchestral setting, Reynolds has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra (Japan), Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, Des Moines Metro Opera, Fresno Philharmonic, New World Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, and at the Aspen Music Festival. He has recorded for the Australian Broadcasting Association, Carl Fischer Publishing Company, Potenza Music, Mark Records, and Summit. Reynolds brings dynamic chamber music performances to the concert stage having performed for the Sedona Chamber Music Festival with the Tucson Symphony Wind Quintet, Lamont Wind Quintet and Agassiz Duo. He has won awards at both the Coleman and Carmel National Chamber Music Competitions additionally collaborating with esteemed artists Itzhak Perlman, Don Weilerstein, Paul Katz, Ronald Leonard, Stefan Milenkovich, and Merry Peckham. A passionate educator, Reynolds has been invited to teach in some of the world’s most renowned music conservatories including the Grieg Academy of Music, Norwegian Academy of Music, Mahler Private University, Conservatoire de Versailles, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Seoul National University, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya and Conservatorio de Música de Murcia in Spain as well as Soochow University and Tainan University of the Arts in Taiwan. He has been a guest lecturer for San Francisco Symphony’s Keeping Score program and has held teaching positions at the Rocky Ridge Music Center, Bay View Music Festival, Idyllwild Arts Summer Program, Northern Arizona University, University of Reynolds is a Buffet Group USA Performing Artist and Clinician and Lomax Classic Mouthpiece Artist.
Percussionist Lynn Vartan is an international performer/educator who is an advocate for diversity in music. Lynn has worked with Michael Colgrass, Joan Tower, Glen Velez, James Newton, Chinary Ung, the Hilliard Ensemble, and the Tambuco Ensemble, and is known for her dynamic athleticism and energy on stage. As a soloist, Lynn has been featured on the Green Umbrella Series, the Different Trains Series, at universities all over the US. Lynn has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Hubei Opera Company, the Sierra Winds, the Helena Symphony and Southwest Chamber Music. She has participated in cultural exchanges such as “Ascending Dragon” in Vietnam, “The Dream of Helen” and the “East Meets West” project designed for her as a soloist in China. Lynn has appeared on the ECM, Albany, Cuneifroms, Bridge, New World, Lian, Yarlung and Cambria labels. She was Grammy nominated with Southwest Chamber Music for The Complete Chamber Music of Charlos Chavez, and for William Kraft’s Complete Encounters Series. Lynn is currently the Director of Percussion at Southern Utah University and is endorsed by Paiste, Remo and Marimba One.
Charles West has performed recitals and concertos throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America Australia and Asia. He has recorded repertoire ranging from standard sonatas to avant-garde on labels including Klavier, Wilson Audiophile, Centaur, CRI, Crystal, and he is heard on a Grammy Award-winning Telarc CD. A former Fulbright Scholar and President of the International Clarinet Association, his career includes nearly thirty years as Principal Clarinetist in six professional orchestras and opera companies. He has held teaching positions in three North American universities, with guest professorships in South America, Asia, and Australia. Before receiving Professor Emeritus status from Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. West received the VCUArts’ highest faculty award, the Award of Excellence. Awarded Honorary Membership in the International Clarinet Association in 2022, he is a Buffet Group USA performing artist, and his books on woodwinds are published by GIA Publications.