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Akron Symphony: Kristina Belisle Jones featured in Weber clarinet concerto
Maestro Christopher Wilkins will lead the Akron Symphony Orchestra in a concert featuring the pioneers of the Romantic era with "Early Romantics", Saturday, October 16, 2010 at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall at 8 PM. The concert will open under the direction of newly appointed ASO Assistant Conductor Levi Hammer making his Akron debut with Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival overture and two excerpts from the composer’s Damnation of Faust: Dance of the Sylphs and Hungarian March (aka Rákóczy March). Carl von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 will feature ASO principal clarinetist Kristina Belisle Jones, and the concert will conclude with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2.We caught up with Kristina just after she had finished a long day of teaching at the University of Akron where she also serves as Professor of Clarinet.
MT: How many students do you have?
KBJ: This semester we have fifteen majors, two minors and two non-majors, I actually teach fifteen.
MT: Wow! That is quite a lot.
KBJ: Yes, it can be pretty draining. They have degree recitals so there are always other things involved that keep you busy. But it is all part of the job.
MT: The next Akron Symphony program is so interesting. I love the Weber clarinet concertos.
KBJ: Aren’t they fun!! They have such beautiful melodies, yet on the other hand, the tunes have such wit and so much character. They really are a joy to play.
MT: Is there any particular reason you chose the first concerto over the second?
KBJ: Well, I have performed the second many times, and I have taught the first a lot, but never performed it. I actually think they are both wonderful, but the first somehow pulls at your heartstrings just a little bit more then the second. And I wanted a chance to play it with an orchestra. My students play these concertos with a piano, but it is such a different world, playing with an orchestra. All of those strings, and the orchestration is just so beautiful that I really wanted to do it. I am so happy and so excited to be able to do it.
MT: How much rehearsal time will you get?
KBJ: I will get three rehearsals. An hour on Thursday evening and then about a half an hour on Friday, then the dress rehearsal on Saturday afternoon. It will be enough.
MT: Where did you first begin playing the clarinet?
KBJ: Wow, where was I when I started playing? We moved a lot when I was a kid because my dad had a lot of job transfers. But I grew up in the Midwest, sort of in the central Illinois area -- some little towns and then suburbs of Chicago. So I started when I was a little girl, and actually my father played the clarinet and I would mess around with his. I was daddy’s little girl growing up, and I always loved the clarinet.
MT: I understand that you were also part of a woodwind quintet for a while that was based in New York City?
KBJ: Yes, that’s correct. When I was a graduate student I went to the Norfolk Summer Festival that is run by the Yale school of Music. It is a chamber music festival and the five of us were put together. Almost everyone else in the group was from the east coast, and afterward we just decided to stay together. Our name was kind of corny because they would always pronounce Norfolk “North Fork” so we called ourselves "Southspoon". Like I said it’s really corny. But we did stay together and I would travel to New York to rehearse and play concerts. It was a great collaboration of younger players. We were all just getting our careers started. At the time I was teaching at the University of Central Arkansas, which was my first job. So it was exciting to go from Arkansas to New York, but I always loved leaving too. I think it takes a special type of person to live there and while I love the city, I guess I prefer a little more space, especially green space. Although Central Park is so beautiful.
MT: But to use a musical term; you have a good gig going here with the Akron Symphony and the teaching at the University as well as the Solaris Quintet.
KBJ: Yes it is sort of a dream come true for me. When you are starting out and thinking about the type of life you would like to have you think you would like to teach but I also wanted a lot of different avenues for playing. So the quintet at Akron is such an amazing group and my colleagues are just wonderful. The quintet is a highlight. Also being able to play in the Akron Symphony. I was very lucky to win the position when they had the auditions. I was really fortunate because that also happened my first year here. Yes, it really has been a great ride, because I have gotten to do so many things.
MT; Back to Saturday’s performance, do you have to play the Schumann Symphony as well?
KBJ: They gave me the option, but I decided not to do it. I thought it would be just a little too much.
MT: Good for you -- and besides, you’re the soloist. This is your night.
KBJ: Well thank you!
Christopher Wilkins conducts the Akron Symphony in “Early Romantics”, including Weber’s First Clarinet Concerto with Kristina Belisle Jones and Schumann’s Second Symphony at E.J. Thomas Hall on Saturday at 8. The program begins with selections by Berlioz conducted by the Orchestra’s new assistant, Levi Hammer. Ticket information here.
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