Bixby Kennedy

Clarinetist, Arranger, MCNY Executive Director

First Prize, 2019 Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards

Admired for his “marvelous ringing tone” (Joseph Dalton, Albany Times Union) Bixby Kennedy is one of the most versatile clarinetists of his generation. He has performed concerti with the Minnesota Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Bloomington Sinfonietta, and New Haven Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Bixby has performed throughout the US and Europe in venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, The Kennedy Center, Marlboro Music Festival, and is the clarinetist for the “explosive” New York City based chamber ensemble Frisson. He has appeared as a guest artist with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. As an orchestral musician, Bixby has performed with the New York Philharmonic and the MET Opera. On period instruments, Bixby has performed classical repertoire on original and replica instruments throughout the US with Grand Harmonie Orchestra. He is a former member of Ensemble Connect and works as a teaching artist throughout the US. As an arranger, his works have been performed by Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Schumann, Frisson, Ensemble Connect, and Symphony in C. He loves traveling, trying new foods, laughing, hiking, and playing tennis.

The Musicians Club of New York's Concert Series: January 19, 2020, Victor Borge Hall, Scandinavia House, New York City. Presenting
Bixby Kennedy, clarinet, and Mika Sasaki, piano, in the Winner's Concert of Bixby Kennedy, Clarinet. Mr. Kennedy is the
First Prize Winner of the 2019 Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards for woodwinds/brass.

Click on time to link to that section:
01:29 Per Brevig on the passing of Ada Kopetz-Korf, pianist, teacher and long-time Board Member 
02:40 Per Brevig introducing artists Songs without Words for Clarinet and Piano (world premiere) by Paul H. Kirby 
03:39 I. Playful (b. 1946) 
06:03 II. Lazy Afternoon 
08:16 III. Ragtime 
09:48 IV. Prayer 
11:29 V. Reflections 
14:38 Bixby Kennedy on Kirby, Stravinsky and Rowe pieces Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) 
18:38 I. Sempre piano e molto tranquillo 
20:35 II. 1/8th note =168 
21:57 III. 1/8th note =160 Triptych (world premiere) by Will Rowe (b. 1992) 
23:18 I. dance-like, playful, capricious 
25:00 II. wavy, calm, fluid 
28:57 III. bouncy, rugged, rhapsodic Fantasiestücke, op. 73 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856) 
31:43 I. Zart und mit Ausdruck 
35:16 II. Lebhaft, leicht 
38:54 III. Rasch und mit Feuer Three Preludes by George Gershwin (1898-1937), arr. Charles Neidich (b. 1953) 
44:02 I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso 
45:56 II. Andante con moto e poco rubato 
49:40 III. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso 
51:16 Bixby Kennedy on Bernstein Sonata for clarinet and piano by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) 
52:29 I. Grazioso 
56:46 II. Andantino – Vivace e leggiero 
1:04:08 Sonata for clarinet and piano by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) 
1:06:02 I. Allegro Tristamente 
1:11:56 II. Romanza 
1:17:05 III. Allegro con Fuoco 
1:21:12 Per Brevig chat with artists. 
Video by Paula and Chris Argondizza. info@musicansclubofny.org.