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Charlene Zimmerman, is the former Principal Clarinet at Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. She also served on the faculty of Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts.

With the Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Grant Park Symphony, Charlene has been heard many times over WFMT Fine Arts Radio for opening night broadcasts and other concerts. During the Wagner Ring Cycles of 1996 in Chicago, conducted by Zubin Mehta, Charlene received critical acclaim from New York Times music critic Bernard Holland: "during Gotterdamerung on Saturday night, the crucial clarinet parts were very beautiful."

She has performed with the Chicago Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony, American Ballet Theater, Music of the Baroque, the Sanibel Festival, and the Grand Teton Music Festival. She has recorded hundreds of TV and radio commercials in Chicago, has recorded with the Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Grant Park Symphony Orchestras and can be heard with the Lyric Opera Orchestra on the Ardis Krainik Gala Concert, the Barber Antony and Cleopatra, and the Bolcom A View from the Bridge.

Outside of music Charlene devotes her time to her husband, writer Jack Zimmerman, their two sons and wives, and their three grandchildren.

Dr. Julie Detweiler is a classical freelance clarinetist who has been described as delivering her musical style with "flair." She is the Eb clarinetist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and has performed with orchestras around the country throughout her career, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble, among others. In addition, she has participated in the

Aspen Music School and Festival, the Rome Festival Orchestra and the Bard Conductor’s Institute, the latter as a member of the orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Detweiler is also a founding member of Trio Lucent, comprised of two clarinets and piano.

As an educator, Dr. Detweiler is currently adjunct faculty at Florida State University and Northwest Florida State College and teaches at the Florida State University Summer Music Camp during the summer. She has maintained an active private teaching studio for over twenty years. She has also served as a New York Philharmonic Teaching Artist and has taught in the pre-college programs at both the Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School. Dr. Detweiler completed her Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance at Florida State University and also holds degrees from Northwestern University and the State University of New York at Potsdam. Her major teachers include Russell Dagon, Dr. Frank Kowalsky, Mark Nuccio, Theodore Oien, and Dr. Alan Woy. She currently lives in the Tallahassee, Florida area with her husband and children. Dr. Detweiler is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician.

Dr. Julie Detweiler is a classical freelance clarinetist who has been described as delivering her musical style with "flair." She is the Eb clarinetist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and has performed with orchestras around the country throughout her career, including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the New England Symphonic Ensemble, among others. In addition, she has participated in the

Aspen Music School and Festival, the Rome Festival Orchestra and the Bard Conductor’s Institute, the latter as a member of the orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Dr. Detweiler is also a founding member of Trio Lucent, comprised of two clarinets and piano.

As an educator, Dr. Detweiler is currently adjunct faculty at Florida State University and Northwest Florida State College and teaches at the Florida State University Summer Music Camp during the summer. She has maintained an active private teaching studio for over twenty years. She has also served as a New York Philharmonic Teaching Artist and has taught in the pre-college programs at both the Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School. Dr. Detweiler completed her Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance at Florida State University and also holds degrees from Northwestern University and the State University of New York at Potsdam. Her major teachers include Russell Dagon, Dr. Frank Kowalsky, Mark Nuccio, Theodore Oien, and Dr. Alan Woy. She currently lives in the Tallahassee, Florida area with her husband and children. Dr. Detweiler is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician.

Episode 9: In this episode we speak with composer, clarinetist, and mom of 2, Kristen Denny Chambers. She shares how her past has shaped her role as a mother. 

https://clarinetplayground.com 

Dr. Kristen Denny-Chambers, (b. 1978) clarinetist, teacher, and composer, has performed as a freelance, chamber, and orchestral clarinetist in several venues including the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, the Fort Smith Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Longmont Symphony, Colorado Light Opera, and the Tulsa Symphony.

Episode 8: In this episode we speak with composer, clarinetist, and mom of 2, Kristen Denny Chambers. She shares how her past has shaped her role as a mother.

https://clarinetplayground.com

Dr. Kristen Denny-Chambers, (b. 1978) clarinetist, teacher, and composer, has performed as a freelance, chamber, and orchestral clarinetist in several venues including the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, the Fort Smith Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Longmont Symphony, Colorado Light Opera, and the Tulsa Symphony.

Having no formal compositional training, Kristen wrote a clarinet exercise book called Prep Steps Before You Kroepsch in 2016 with the goal of bridging the gap between high school and college-level clarinet methods. A few years later, Kristen wrote Finger Fitness ÉtudesBook 1 which incorporates finger technique drills into 38 tuneful and light-hearted études with 10 additional études for low C clarinets. Composed in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the book showcases a new compositional voice that was simply waiting for the right moment for inspiration. 
Released in September of 2021, Finger Fitness Études Book 2 picks up where book 1 left off with 40 new études (plus 18 for low C) featuring larger intervals, more challenging rhythms, and elevated musical expectations. Released just a month later in September of 2021, Finger Fitness Foundationsis a precursor to Finger Fitness Études Book 1. It contains mostly half-page études based on the “68 Exercises in Mechanism” from the Celebrated Method for the Clarinet by H. Klosé – perfect for those just getting started with finger fundamentals. 

Following a long, five-year break from social media, Kristen returned with the purpose of connecting with others musically. After having kids and multiple dental surgeries, she needed to get back into shape so she dove into some performance groups. Kristen noticed a need for another group so she started an Étude of the WeekFacebook group for clarinet enthusiasts to journey through études together and, much to her surprise, the community has become a significant part of her daily life with new friendships and connections budding daily. Kristen has also started a Facebook group for Clarinet Playground that has become a wonderfully supportive group and allows members to post and cheer each other on as they play through Clarinet Playground materials. Branching out further from her comfort zone, Kristen joined Instagram and has learned to create videos and other content related to Étude of the Week and Clarinet Playground as well as clarinet coaching materials.

Kristen is now teaching full-time in her home studio, writing and experimenting with music as much as possible, leading and participating in several online clarinet communities, performing with local and virtual groups, taking care of her two small children, and brainstorming for her next book project.

Dr. Denny-Chambers holds degrees from the University of Tulsa, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Colorado-Boulder. Kristen’s primary teachers include Shannon Scott, Diane Barger, and Daniel Silver.

In this episode, we talk about all things Winter Break and reflect on the interviews we conducted in 2023.

Dr. Jackie McIlwain, Associate Professor of Clarinet, began teaching at The University of Southern Mississippi in 2013. She enjoys keeping a diverse and active performance schedule with solo recitals, chamber recitals, solo performances, and orchestral performances. Dr. McIlwain's research interest includes musicians' injuries and preventions. In 2017, Dr. McIlwain became a licensed Body Mapping Educator and has presented this topic across the globe. Body Mapping was designed for musicians and promotes moving with more freedom, efficiency, and less tension. It often provides relief for musicians who are injured or perform with pain, and helpful for musicians to prevent pain from occurring.⁠https://www.jackiemapsmusic.com/

Dr. Jackie McIlwain, Associate Professor of Clarinet, began teaching at The University of Southern Mississippi in 2013. She enjoys keeping a diverse and active performance schedule with solo recitals, chamber recitals, solo performances, and orchestral performances.
Dr. McIlwain's research interest includes musicians' injuries and preventions. In 2017, Dr. McIlwain became a licensed Body Mapping Educator and has presented this topic across the globe. Body Mapping was designed for musicians and promotes moving with more freedom, efficiency, and less tension. It often provides relief for musicians who are injured or perform with pain, and helpful for musicians to prevent pain from occurring.https://www.jackiemapsmusic.com/

In this episode, Rosemary shares more of her journey as a mother-musician.

In this episode, we interview Rosemary Engelstad!

Human. Musician. Clarinetist. Body Nerd. Music Educator. MovNat (Natural Movement) Certified Trainer L1. Massage Therapist. Trainee in Body Mapping Education. Student in Craniosacral Therapy.

https://www.rosemaryengelstad.com/