Left to Right: Lockhart, Maggie Walters '95, Chesebro, Kristen House '99, Melissa Faulkner '99, and Wendy Bennis '99.

This is my most famous former student.  He is currently conductor of the Boston Pops and the Utah Symphony Orchestra.  He studied clarinet four years, primarily bass clarinet, and majored in Music (piano) and German.   He displayed an avid interest in conducting and directed the Furman Clarinet Choir and the Carolina Youth Symphony in his senior year. One comment he recently made to me was that he applied for 136 conducting positions before he got his first reply.  I admire his incredible tenacity and his superb musicianship! To access the Keith Lockhart web site, go to www.keithlockhart.com

Elizabeth (Libby) Crawford

At Furman, Libby was principal clarinet in both the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, and she performed the bNielsen Clarinet Concerto with the Furman Orchestra . She was also a national finalist in the MTNA Woodwind Competition. She continued her studies with John Mohler at the U. of Michigan and won the solo chair in both the Michigan orchestra and band. After she received her Masters Degree, she took the 2 nd Clarinet/ Eb position in the Jacksonville Symphony. After playing professional for 10 years, she returned to Florida State U. for her doctoral work. In 2006, she was appointed Clarinet Professor at Ball State U. in Muncie, Indiana.

Tod Kerstetter

Tod was principal clarinet in the Furman Wind Ensemble and Orchestra and performed a solo with the Furman Orchestra, the Carolina Youth Symphony and the Greenville Symphony. Tod was also an MTNA National Collegiate Woodwind finalist. He received his Master’s Degree from Indiana University ( Bloomington) where he studied with James Campbell. He did his doctoral degree at the University of Georgia where he studied with Theodore Jahn. He spent a two years performing as Principal Clarinet with the Sinfonia del Pacifico in Mexico. After teaching clarinet at Western Kentucky U. ( Bowling Green) for three years, Tod took the clarinet position at Kansas State U.( Manhattan) in 1999. Tod presented a recital and lecture for the SE Clarinet Workshop.

Sarah Harvie Kitzmiller
Sarah was from Spartanburg and joined a studio of Furman clarinet players that were among the best I have ever seen at Furman. It reminds me of the New York Yankees "Murderers Row" of 1927. (Most of my students never knew that I was an avid baseball fan in my youthful days). Sarah rose quickly to the top of my class, top chair at Furman and won the SC (MTNA) Collegiate Woodwind Competition and went on the Indiana University for her Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance. She won first chair in the top orchestra (Philharmonic) at Indiana and was enamored by the IU students because she knew so much about pratice techniques which she willing passed on to the Indiana clarinetists. Sarah graduated from IU at a time when the orchestral clarinet world was glutted with fine players and there were no job openings. There were zero openings that year. She began a career with Bristol-Myers Corp., met Dr. John Kitzmiller, married him, and lives in the Cincinnati area. They have two beautiful girls and she and John love running--something Dr. Bob used to do before breaking his leg (1982).

Ken Ellison
Ken was a saxophone player from Palmetto HS in Williamston SC. He began clarinet study with me as a junior. In his senior year, he won first chair in the SC All State Band and Orchestra and the Carolina Youth Symphony--Dr. C. conducted this group for 25 years. Ken came to Furman as a Performance Major and won first chair in all of the important organizations at Furman, SC Collegiate Woodwind Competition, etc. Ken did his Masters Degree at Arizona State U. studying with Dr. Bob Spring--an internationally renown clarinetist. Ken continued his studies and at this writing, Oct. '06, is close to receiving a doctorate from Rutgers U.

Matthew Hanna

Matthew was the Winner of the 1995 International Clarinet Association (ICA) High School Young Artist Competition.  This event included 33 entrants (18 from the USA).  The 2nd and 3rd place winners were from Korea and Taiwan respectively.  Matthew lives in Greenville, SC and is currently a computer programmer working out of Greenville, and plays the clarinet with the Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra, the FURMAN UNIVERSITY CLARINET QUARTET (faculty), and other local groups.  He has performed for the SE Clarinet Workshop in past years.

Kristen House Napoleon

Kristen was a performance major at Furman University and recently finished a masters degree and a doctorate at the University of Georgia where she studied with Theodore Jahn and Ray McClellan. She is from North Augusta, SC and was a member of the SC All State Band. She performed a solo with the Furman Band in her senior year. Her father, William House, was a Professor of Music at USC-Aiken. Kristen teaches at Glendale Community College and Paradise Valley Community College and has a private studio in the Phoenix (Arizona) locale. Her husband is working towards a doctorate in saxophone at Arizona State University.

Jennifer Bailey Everhart

Jennifer was a music education major at Furman. She was a high school student in North Carolina. While at Furman, Jennifer competed in the MTNA SC Collegiate Woodwind Competition and was declared Runner-up in the solo competition and her chamber music group, the Furman University Clarinet Quartet, was also named Second Place. She went on to graduate school at Indiana University where she studied clarinet with Howard Klug. She continued her study at Indiana and received the Diploma in Clarinet Performance in 2005. In May of 2005, she auditioned for and won a position in the U.S. Army Field Band. This is a very prestigious position for any young clarinetist. Dr. Howard Klug, her most recent mentor, was a member of the noted U. S. Air Force Band under Col. Gabriel. Jennifer and her husband, Matt, now live in the Washington D. C. area. Matt is a very talented bassist and recording engineer.

Maurita Murphy Mead

Maurita Murphy was from Wisconsin and was a student of mine during high school. She attended the Eastman School of Music and is now the Professor of Clarinet at the University of Iowa. Maurita has several CD's out and has recently been an officer in the international Clarinet Association. She has been a clinician for the S. E. Clarinet / Saxophone Workshop at Furman.

Taylor Massey

Taylor studied clarinet with me for five years as a high school student. He won first chair in the SC All-State Clinic Band one year and the All State Senior Band for two years. He won several other honors during this period. He went to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music for his undergraduate work and clarinet with Ron DeCant (now retired) and then moved to Chicago to continue his studies at Northwestern. While in Greenville, Taylor played Principal Clarinet in the Carolina Youth Symphony, a nationally noted youth orchestra which I conducted for 25 years. Taylor met Angela Robbins, Principal Flute (now a student at Cincinnati) and married her in 2005. In October, 2006, Taylor audition and won the Principal Clarinet position with the Augusta (GA) Symphony Orchestra.

Kenyattis Surratt

Ken was from the Gastonia area near Charlotte, NC. At Furman, he won 1st chair in several of the top instrumental groups. In 2003, he won First Place in the MTNA SC Collegiate Woodwind Competition. He also played clarinet with the Spartanburg Philharmonic. He graduated from Furman in 2004 and went to Cincinnati Conservatory where he studied clarinet with Ron DeCant.

June was an unusual student. She excelled in playing her instrument but also loves horses. I have some of the craziest pics of her in her equestrian garb and riding and playing at the same time. She is currently Professor of Music at St. Leo College in Tampa Florida.

2005-06 has been an interesting year. Many students made significant improvement. Thanks for all of your hard work. Congrats to our seniors. They will be off to grad school, to jobs, etc.

KUDOS FOR 2006-2007

TECH TEST 2005-06 -- MICHAEL McClimon, 225. He just may break the record of 226 (held by Debbie (nee Burr) Hani, Mary Hedges (twice), Wendy (nee Bennis) Westberry, Suzy Samuels, Tod Kerstetter, Libby Crawford, et al. Close but not quite was Emily Hutchinson (06) with a 225.

Top Freshmen– RODDY TERRELL .

BEST OVERALL RECITAL-- MICHAEL MCCLIMON, JUNIOR RECITAL—Michael was solid in all categories except one but he delivered his Mucyznski and Schumann near-flawless technique and rhythm, an excellent level of musicality, fast fingers and tongue, solid tone and intonation, all delivered with panache and maybe too much chutzpah.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES—Emily Robinson. E Rob has many talents and I was really knocked out with her concert at the University Center in May. Awesome.

HARDEST WORKING SENIOR—Anglea Hicks

 MOST IMPROVED SENIORS—Katie and Angela

 NOTABLY IMPROVED JUNIORS—Michale is always improved.

 MOST IMPROVED FRESHMEN – FALL-- Veronica Coe; SPRING-- Roddy

BEST OVERALL TONE QUALITY--JACOB HUGHES

MEET THE 2007-08 FRESHMEN CLARINETS!!! Welcome to Furman!!!

Erik Franklin
Erik is from Spring Valley HS in Columbia, SC. He has studied clarinet with Ashley Bristol and Doug Graham and was a member of SC All State Bands. Erik plans to be a Music Education major.

Kyle Snyder
Kyle comes from the Atlanta area and is graduate of Whitefield Academy. He is a former student of Valerie Miller and Stacy Schuman Quiros--a Furman clarinet major from the 80's. He plans to be Music Ed. major.s

Kim Richards
Kim comes from Sullivan South HS in Kingsport, TN. Kim will not be majoring in music but will be a member of the Furman Band.

Caroline Wallace
Caroline comes from Texas. She will not be majoring in music but does want to participate in the Furman Band and Orchestra. She also plans to study clarinet.

Senior Clarinets and Honors Class of 2006

Kappa Delta Pi -- Lisa Guenther, Melanie Howell, Emily Hutchinson, Sarah Rembert, Lauren Sutphin, Carrie Vaughn

BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU. HERE IS WHERE THEY WILL BE FALL 2006. GOOD LUCK!!

EMILY HUTCHINSON - GRAD SCHOOL, INDIANA UNIVERSITY ClARINET PERFORMANCE

LISA GUENTHER – GREENVILLE, WOODMONT EL. SCH.

CARRIE VAUGHN – GREENVILLE, BEREA H.S. BAND DIRECTOR

MELANIE HOWELL – SPARTANBURG, BAND DIRECTOR, DISTRICT 6, Gable M.S.

SARAH (REMBERT) OATSVAL – JUST MARRIED, TEACHING BAND IN RALEIGH- DURHAM AREA.

LAUREN SUTPHIN - TEACHING ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN GREENVILLE

Current Students 2006-07

Congrats to Crystal Mann, Katie Vagovic, Angela Hicks,and Heather Seay, for their Senior recitals and to Michael McClimon and Jacob Hughes for their Junior recitals.

Angela Hicks and Phi Beta Kappa! And, she got the 2007 Math award and the Latin award plus another!
Angela was inducted into the elite academic society known as Phi Beta Kappa. Congrats!!! She is a math major and has kept her clarinet interest all four years. She will do a recital in May--see the Concerts and Events.

Katie Vagovic and Homecoming Court! And current Who's Who!
Katie Vagovic, a BA in Music (Clarinet) will part of the 2006 Homecoming Court. Congrats to Katie and all of you will see her at the Homecoming Festivies on Oct. 20-22.

All State Band Results for 2007 -

Benjamin Chen wins 1st Chair in South Carolina Clinic Band - Ben has also been 2nd chair in the SC Junior Band and 3rd chair in the SC Clinic All-State Band. He was a student at Mauldin HS (Drum Major in Fall 2007) and has studied with me the past four years. He recently won first chair in the Carolina Youth Symphony and won the SCMTA Woodwind Competition in 2005. He was named third place in the Clemson Univ. Concerto Competition held in August, 2007. He is playing many major pieces in the clarinet repertory. Most recently, he played the Erwinn Fantasia by Meister. Ben also plays piano. Ben attends the Governor's School for the Arts in GVL this year.

Daniel Chen wins 1st chair in SC All State Junior Band - Daniel began lessons with me the summer of 2006. He is a 8th grade student at Beck Middle School in Greenville and is a member of the CYS Concert Orchestra. Daniel also plays piano.