Faculty and Staff
Christopher Kirkpatrick
Professor of Clarinet and Music History, Woodwind Area Coordinator
Contact
- Office
- Room 204 Music Building
- Phone
- 406-243-6880
- Fax
- 406-243-2441 attn: Christopher Kirkpatrick
- christopher.kirkpatrick@umontana.edu
- Office Hours
By appointment. Email: christopher.kirkpatrick@umontana.edu
- Website
- http://www.christopherkirkpatrickclarinet.com
Personal Summary
Christopher Kirkpatrick is Professor of Clarinet at the University of Montana where he teaches clarinet and music history. He has performed and taught throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Currently principal clarinet of the Missoula Symphony, he has also performed with the Detroit Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Lansing Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Santa Fe Symphony. Dr. Kirkpatrick has been an adjudicator for the International Clarinet Association’s Young Artist Competition and Research Competition, the Music Teachers National Association, the Silverstein Clarinet Contest, and throughout the US.
Dr. Kirkpatrick has been a guest artist and lecturer at numerous conferences, including the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest®, International Duo Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, International Double Reed Society Conference, River City Winter Clarinet Festival, College Music Society Conference, the Brandon University Clarinet Festival, World Bass Clarinet Congress, and the Montana/Idaho Clarinet Festival. During the summers he is on the faculty of the International Music Camp in Manitoba, Canada.
As a member of Duo Nyans, he is dedicated to commissioning and premiering new works and performing the standard repertoire for clarinet and saxophone. The duo has been invited to perform at numerous conferences and universities and recently toured throughout Sweden and Taiwan. Their first album, Debut, was released in 2018. The album includes seven compositions for various combinations of sax and clarinet, with works primarily by living American composers, including the premiere recording of four works.
An avid enthusiast of new music, recent commissions include works by James Stephenson, Emilie LeBel, Christopher Stark, Bryan Curt Kostors, Simon Hutchinson, Evan Chambers, James David and David Biedenbender.
Christopher Kirkpatrick earned his Doctorate in Clarinet Performance from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from the University of New Mexico and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. His teachers have included Elsa Ludewig- Verdehr, Keith Lemmons, Steve Cohen, Ted Gurch, Nikolasa Tejero and Peter Temko.
Dr. Kirkpatrick also serves as the Montana state chair of the International Clarinet Association. He is a Buffet Crampon and Silverstein Pro Team Artist. For more information, please visit christopherkirkpatrickclarinet.com.
Education
Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance (2011)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Master of Music in Clarinet Performance (2003)
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance (2000)
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Courses Taught
Applied Clarinet Lessons (100-500 levels)
Clarinet Choir
Clarinet Pedagogy
Woodwind Methods (clarinet portion)
Women in Music
Music of Underrepsented Composers
20th Century Music
20th Century Chamber Music
The Symphony Orchestra
The Life and Works of Stravinsky
Orchestration
Teaching Experience
Professor of Clarinet, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT (2009-present)
Duties include teaching all graduate and all undergraduate applied clarinet students, studio class, repertoire class, pedagogy class, clarinet choir, chamber music coaching, and clarinet pedagogy class for the general B.M.E. students. Twentieth Century Music History, Modern Chamber Music, Orchestration, and Aural Perception I and II. Recruiting and university summer band camp.
Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet, Albion College, Albion, MI (2006-2009)
Duties included teaching all applied clarinet students, studio class, and chamber music coaching. Recruiting.
Artist Faculty, International Music Camp, International Peace Gardens, (2012-present)
Duties include teaching middle and high school applied clarinet, chamber music coaching, masterclasses, and a music fundamentals course. Duties also involve performing in faculty chamber ensembles and faculty orchestra and wind ensemble.
Teaching Assistant, Brevard Music Festival, Brevard, NC (2004)
Duties included teaching applied clarinet, coaching sectionals, coaching chamber music, and assisting the clarinet faculty.
Faculty, Chamber Music Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM (2003-2004)
Duties included teaching clarinet lessons and coaching chamber music.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (2002)
Duties included teaching clarinet pedagogy class for the general B.M.E. students and assisting with the clarinet studio.
Private Studio (2000-present)
Private studio has included outstanding young clarinetists from Tennessee, New Mexico, Michigan, and Montana. These students are often selected for All-State ensembles and go on to study clarinet in prestigious music programs across the country.
Master Classes
Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea (June 2014)
Dong-a University, Busan, South Korea (June 2014)
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN (October 2013)
University of North Alabama, Florence, AL (October 2013)
Great Falls Clarinet Day, Great Falls, MT (May 2013, May 2014)
Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada (April, 2011)
The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS (February, 2010)
Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA (February, 2010)
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (April, 2007)
Lectures/Presentations
River City Clarinet Winter Festival, Extended Techniques for Clarinet, The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN (2015)
University of Montana All-Stars Honor Band, Demystifying Clarinet Embouchure: A Guide for High School Band Directors, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT (2013)
Montana/Idaho Clarinet Festival, Pedagogical Materials for Bass Clarinet, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT (October, 2011)
Brandon University International Clarinet Festival, BASSics and More, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada (April, 2011)
Research Interests
Bass Clarinet Literature and Pedagogy
Clarinet and Saxophone Repertoire
Projects
Recording project with Duo Nyans in 2015
Field of Study
Clarinet Performance
Clarinet Pedagogy
Chamber Music
Orchestral Literature
Music History
Publications
Dissertation: "An Annotated Guide to Pedagogical Materials for the Bass Clarinet," 2011.
Affiliations
International Clarinet Association, Montana State Chair
National Association for Music Educators
Association for Body Mapping Education member