International Clarinet Association

The International Clarinet Association (ICA) is an international membership organization devoted to the clarinet and to the people who perform, teach, study, make, research, and promote the instrument. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, the association serves as a professional and educational network for clarinetists, teachers, students, scholars, composers, instrument makers, and other members of the wider clarinet community. The organization traces its institutional origins to a series of clarinet conferences initiated at the University of Denver in 1964. The university called for and funded national conferences as part of its centennial activities. Clarinet professor Ralph Strouf handled much of the early organization, while his teacher and mentor, Keith Stein, provided artistic leadership for the first National Clarinet Clinic, a five-day event. Strouf continued organizing annual clinics until his departure from the University of Denver in 1967. Ramon Kireilis subsequently assumed the clarinet professorship and responsibility for the event. In 1973, Kireilis and participants in the National Clarinet Clinic established the International Clarinet Society. The new body formalized its mission, created officers and committees, and began publishing The Clarinet, a quarterly journal that became one of its principal vehicles for professional communication and scholarship. In 1988, the International Clarinet Society merged with ClariNetwork International. The merger brought together an organization with a stronger academic orientation and another with a focus on professional performers. In 1991, the combined organization adopted the name International Clarinet Association. The ICA's central public event is ClarinetFest, an annual festival that developed from the earlier National Clarinet Clinic and its successor events, including the International Clarinet Clinic, International Clarinet Congress, International Clarinet Conference, and ClarFest. ClarinetFest combines concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, competitions, and opportunities for professional networking. Its programming connects performers and teachers with researchers, composers, students, and manufacturers, making it both a performance festival and a specialist industry gathering. The association also supports the study and development of clarinet repertoire. Its competition activities have included composition, high school, orchestral audition, research, and young artist competitions. These programs provide structured opportunities for emerging performers, composers, and scholars while encouraging new repertoire and strengthening links between education and professional practice. Research preservation is another significant part of the ICA's work. After the death of the association's third president, Jerry Pierce, in 1994, the ICA acquired his extensive collection of clarinet scores. The collection became an important part of the ICA Research Center at the University of Maryland. More than 6,000 scores are available for circulation to eligible ICA and University of Maryland users, and the research holdings also include the Jerry Pierce Papers and the Daniel Bonade Papers. Through these resources, the association contributes to the preservation and accessibility of clarinet history, pedagogy, performance materials, and archival documentation. Today, the ICA's activities center on membership services, The Clarinet, ClarinetFest, competitions, research resources, and international professional exchange. It is not primarily a commercial product brand; rather, its brand represents expertise, community, advocacy, and the institutional infrastructure supporting the global clarinet field.

The International Clarinet Association developed from a sequence of clarinet conferences associated with the University of Denver. In 1964, the university called for and funded national conferences connected with its centennial year. Ralph Strouf, a clarinet professor, organized the practical arrangements for the first National Clarinet Clinic, while his teacher and mentor Keith Stein supplied artistic direction. The initial clinic lasted five days and established a recurring model based on performances, instruction, professional exchange, and discussion of the clarinet's place in musical life. Strouf organized later annual clinics until leaving the University of Denver in 1967. Ramon Kireilis then took over the university clarinet professorship and responsibility for the event. In 1973, Kireilis worked with participants from the National Clarinet Clinic to establish the International Clarinet Society. The society created a mission statement, appointed officers, formed committees, and launched The Clarinet as a quarterly journal. The journal gave the organization a durable platform for reporting, scholarship, pedagogy, repertoire discussion, and communication among clarinet professionals. The society's conference developed through several names and formats. The National Clarinet Clinic became the International Clarinet Clinic, then the International Clarinet Congress and International Clarinet Conference, before later evolving into ClarFest and ultimately ClarinetFest. This progression reflected the organization's increasingly international scope and its effort to bring together performers, teachers, students, scholars, composers, and the commercial sector. A major institutional change occurred in 1988, when the International Clarinet Society merged with ClariNetwork International. The two organizations had complementary constituencies: the society was associated more strongly with academic clarinetists, while ClariNetwork International had a greater emphasis on professional performers. The merger broadened the association's reach and helped create a more unified international body. In 1991, the merged organization adopted its present name, the International Clarinet Association. The ICA expanded its activities beyond conferences and publishing. It established or hosted competitions covering composition, high school performance, orchestral auditions, research, and young artists. These programs support the next generation of performers and scholars while encouraging the creation of new clarinet repertoire. ClarinetFest became the association's principal annual gathering, combining performances and master classes with lectures, exhibitions, competitions, and professional meetings. The organization also became involved in preserving important documentary and musical resources. Following the death of Jerry Pierce, identified as the society's third president, in 1994, the ICA purchased his extensive clarinet score library. The collection became a substantial component of the ICA Research Center at the University of Maryland. More than 6,000 scores are available for circulation to ICA members and members of the University of Maryland community. The research library additionally holds the Jerry Pierce Papers and the Daniel Bonade Papers, extending the association's role into archival preservation and historical scholarship. The modern ICA remains centered on the international clarinet community. Its principal activities are the publication of The Clarinet, the organization of ClarinetFest, the operation or support of research collections, competitions, and educational and professional programming. Its institutional identity is based less on commercial goods than on advancing clarinet performance, teaching, research, repertoire, and international cooperation.

• 1994

  Jerry Pierce score collection acquired

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  After Jerry Pierce's death, the association purchased his extensive clarinet score library, which became a major component of the ICA Research Center at the University of Maryland.

• 1991

  Renamed International Clarinet Association

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The merged organization adopted the name International Clarinet Association.

• 1988

  Merger with ClariNetwork International

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The International Clarinet Society merged with ClariNetwork International, combining academic and professional clarinet constituencies.

• 1973

  International Clarinet Society established

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Ramon Kireilis organized the International Clarinet Society with participants in the National Clarinet Clinic. The organization formed its governance structure and began publishing The Clarinet.

• 1967

  Ramon Kireilis assumes responsibility for the clinic

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  After Ralph Strouf left the University of Denver, clarinetist and professor Ramon Kireilis took over the professorship and the recurring National Clarinet Clinic.

• 1964

  First National Clarinet Clinic

  [1]International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The University of Denver called for and funded national clarinet conferences during its centennial year. Ralph Strouf organized the event and Keith Stein provided artistic direction.

A specialist international association positioned at the intersection of clarinet performance, music education, scholarship, repertoire development, archival preservation, and professional community-building.

• Quarterly journal · 1973

  The Clarinet

  The Clarinet is the association's quarterly specialist journal. It supports communication across the international clarinet field through professional, educational, scholarly, and repertoire-related content. Its launch followed the creation of the International Clarinet Society in 1973 and remains one of the ICA's defining publishing activities.

• Annual festival

  ClarinetFest

  ClarinetFest is the ICA's annual international festival. It evolved from the National Clarinet Clinic through several successive conference formats. The event brings together concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures, workshops, competitions, exhibitions, and professional networking for performers, teachers, students, scholars, composers, and instrument-industry participants.

• Research and archival resource · 1994

  ICA Research Center and Score Collection

  The research collection at the University of Maryland includes more than 6,000 clarinet scores available for circulation to eligible ICA and University of Maryland users. It also includes the Jerry Pierce Papers and the Daniel Bonade Papers, providing access to repertoire and archival material relevant to clarinet history and practice.

• Performance, composition, and research competitions

  ICA Competitions

  The association hosts competitions in several areas, including composition, high school performance, orchestral audition, research, and young artist performance. Together, these programs support emerging performers, composers, and scholars and connect educational development with professional opportunities.

1. 1International Clarinet Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Clarinet Association official websiteclarinet.org
3. 3ICA Research Center and Score Collectionlib.umd.edu