Robert Marcellus
Robert Marcellus | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1928 Omaha,Nebraska, United States |
| Died | March 31, 1996(aged 67) Evanston, Illinois,United States |
Robert Marcellus(June 1, 1928 – March 31, 1996) was an American classicalclarinetistand teacher. Marcellus is best known for his long tenure as principal clarinetist of theCleveland Orchestra.
Biography
[edit]Robert Marcellus was born inOmaha,Nebraska,on June 1, 1928.[1]He began his musical studies with piano lessons at the age of four. He took up the clarinet at eleven and began serious study of the instrument at Minneapolis with Earl Handlon of theMinneapolis Symphony Orchestraat twelve.
His family moved toWashington, D.C.,in 1944, and in the fall of that year, he started commuting toNew York Cityonce a week for lessons withDaniel Bonade,former first clarinetist of the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras.
He became second clarinetist of theNational Symphony Orchestrain Washington in 1945. In 1946, he enlisted in the Air Force and played in the Air Force Band in Washington for three years.
He returned to the second chair in the National Symphony in 1949 and was promoted to first a year later. He remained in this position until he was appointed principal clarinet in theCleveland Orchestraat the invitation ofGeorge Szellin 1953.
Robert Marcellus made his debut as assisting artist with the Cleveland Orchestra on March 29–31, 1956, when he playedMozart's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, K.622.On October 11–13, 1956, he has also assisted in other works that call for solo clarinet, including theconcertobyPaul Hindemithand theConcerto for Harpsichord, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin and CellobyManuel de Falla.
He was principal clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra, under George Szell, from 1953 to 1973. During his tenure in Cleveland, he was clarinet department head at theCleveland Institute of Music.At the height of his performing career in the 1960s, he was much in demand nationally as a soloist. In the summer of 1961, he playedMozart's Clarinet Concerto at theCasals FestivalinPuerto Rico.
After his health forced his early retirement from the orchestra, he was professor of clarinet atNorthwestern Universityfrom 1974 to 1994. His week-long master classes, held each summer from 1974 until 1987, were one of the highlights of his teaching career. Robert Marcellus was the principal conductor of the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra in Interlochen, Michigan for the 1978–79 academic year.
He was a National Patron ofDelta Omicron,an international professional music fraternity.[2]
Towards the end of his career he lost his sight from diabetic retinitis. He continued to teach, remarking that the event had possibly improved his hearing. At his death he was a beloved and universally respected and admired artist and pedagogue whose conservative and highly disciplined approach to instrumental technique influenced generations of clarinetists.
Robert Marcellus died on March 31, 1996.
References
[edit]- ^The Cleveland Orchestra HistoryArchivedMarch 24, 2009, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Delta Omicron".Archived fromthe originalon January 27, 2010.
External links
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