photo: www.akosphoto.com

Igor Begelman, clarinetist

"The young Russian-born clarinetist,... has reached a level of security in which the clarinet is his voice. Listeners were not aware of fingers, keys, reeds or breathing as he effortlessly searched the limits of the instrument's capacities. Its limit was only that of Begelman's imagination, and there was no sign of any boundaries in this program."
The Inquirer, Philadelphia

"Begelman captivated the audience, using a wide range of colors and textures to illustrate Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622. He eased with seamless elegance and agility through the faster movements and allowed listeners to linger in the magnificently pure atmosphere created in the delicate Adagio."
New Haven Register

"The piece (Weber, Concertino) demands virtuosic agility - a quality Begelman possesses in abundance - but also lets the soloist show off his instrument's melodic elegance. Begelman won the audience over with his expressive, lyrical performance."
Savannah Morning News, Georgia

"Igor Begelman made musical magic,...and enchanted the audience at the Parnassos with his displays of virtuosity."
Diario de Monterrey, Mexico

"A musician from head to toe, Igor Begelman brings to his audience amazing powers of communication, a pleasant stage manner and artistic charisma."
El Norte, Mexico

"In his playing everything is in the right place - great musicianship, beautiful sound, excellent technique..."
Tribune de Geneve, Switzerland
 

Exhilarating virtuosity and imagination that compliment his gracious sense of style and excellent musical personality* have become a trademark for the recent Winner of Avery Fisher Career Grant young clarinetist Igor Begelman. He has performed recitals in the United States, Europe, Japan, Israel and as a soloist with such orchestras as the Houston, Savannah and New Haven Symphonies as well as the Odense Simfoniker and L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Equally accomplished as a soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Begelman has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and at festivals throughout the world including Marlboro, Caramoor, Tanglewood and Schleswig-Holstein. An avid proponent of new music, Mr. Begelman has also premiered compositions by Anton Kuerti, Alex Krasotov, Meyer Kupferman, Elliot Schwartz, Roland Tec and recently a new concerto of Ralph Shapey. His association with the Piatigorsky Foundation allows him to perform classical music in less traditional settings.

An active educator, Mr. Begelman teaches at Brooklyn and Swarthmore Colleges and has taught on various occasions at Yale, at Juilliard, and at the Manhattan School of Music. Additionally, he has taught master classes at such festivals as Caramoor and Bowdoin, and throughout the US.

Mr. Begelman was awarded top prizes at the First Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition in Denmark and the 53rd Geneva International Competition in Switzerland. In addition, he has earned top prizes at William C. Byrd Competition, Koussevitsky Competition, International Clarinet Society Competition, Heida Hermanns International Competition, Tilden Prize Competition and Crane New Music Competition among others. His honors also include the Special Prize at the 41st Munich International Competition and awards from the Altamura/Caruso Foundation and Salon de Virtuosi.

Raised in Kiev, Ukraine, Igor Begelman came to the United States in 1989. He received his Master's degree from The Juilliard School of Music and a Bachelor's degree from The Manhattan School of Music. His major teachers include Charles Neidich and Stanley Drucker.

Igor Begelman is affiliated with Astral Artistic Services' a Philadelphia nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding the careers of America's most exceptional musicians. He currently resides in New York.

*Houston Chronicle

"The pleasant, unaffected artist enchanted the enthusiastic public in the sold-out Kongresshaus Saal with his masterly breathing and technique, irresistible refinement and nuances, a heart refreshing natural clarity and beguiling "pianos". He also elevated the Adagio to a soulful, almost visionary song of long-lasting effect."
Der Bund, Zurich, Switzerland

Palm Beach Daily News 1/2010 [PDF]