Ari Davidow (@ari.mastodon.well.com.ap.brid.gy)

ClarinetFest® 2026: A Historic Celebration in Incheon, South Korea Originally published in _The Clarinet_ 53/2 (March 2026). Copies of _The Clarinet_ are available for ICA members. * * * # **CLARINETFEST® 2026:** # **A Historic Celebration in Incheon, South Korea** by Wonkak Kim * * * The International Clarinet Association is thrilled to announce ClarinetFest® 2026, taking place July 7–11 in Incheon, South Korea. This marks the first-ever ClarinetFest® held in Korea, and only the second to be held in Asia. Set in the innovative Songdo International City, this festival promises a week of extraordinary performances, engaging educational activities, and opportunities for clarinetists from across the globe to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the instrument in all its diversity. The Artistic Leadership Team for ClarinetFest® 2026 includes Artistic Director Wonkak Kim (USA), along with Jerry Chae, Kyungsun Lee, Youngdae Yoo (Korea), Ti Huang, Pei-Yun Lin, Suling Tseng (Taiwan), Brooks Nobuo Thon, Pei-Lun Tsai (Japan), Xiangyu Zhou, and Sun Zhen (China). Together, they have curated a festival that emphasizes contemporary creativity, intercultural dialogue, and global exchange—values reflected throughout the week’s programming. The festival opens on Tuesday evening, July 7, with a Gala Concert at the Incheon Art Center Concert Hall. The Hankyung Arte Philharmonic Orchestra joins headliner soloists Jerry Chae (Korea), Annelien van Wauwe (Belgium), Christelle Pochet (France), Vitor Fernandez (Portugal), and the renowned Klezmer soloist David Krakauer (USA) for an evening of extraordinary music. Two prodigy clarinetists and sisters, Se-Yeon and Do-Yeong Lee, both previous winners of the ICA High School Competitions, will also showcase the next generation of clarinet virtuosity. This opening gala sets a bold tone for the week, celebrating the rich tradition and evolving possibilities of the instrument. On Wednesday, July 8, the festival launches the Clarinet Ensemble Series, led by the renowned Seoul Clarinet Ensemble under the direction of Jungmin Song and Hyongon Kim. This ensemble opens the series with a concert showcasing Korea’s vibrant clarinet community and the global breadth of the festival, with performances by amateur and professional groups from dozens of countries around the world. The Evening Headliner Concert features the festival’s jazz highlights, with Japanese jazz icon Eiji Taniguchi, the crossover sensation Ko-Ko-Ya (Japan), and Oriol Marès (Spain) & Tala Fayad Quartet for an evening of improvisation and cross-cultural collaboration. Hankyung Arte Philharmonic Orchestra Thursday, July 9, begins with a headliner performance by the Seoul National University Traditional Korean Ensemble under the direction of Eun-Ah Noh, reflecting the festival’s commitment to intercultural exchange. In the evening, the ClarinetFest® stage will host soloists and chamber artists including Yoonah Kim (USA/Korea), Rocco Parisi (Italy) with the premiere of Michele Mangani’s new quintet, István Kohán (Japan/Hungary), and Joë Christophe (France), presenting an array of repertoire that spans classical, contemporary, and international styles. The Friday Afternoon Headliner Concert features the _Clarinet Through the Ages_ , highlighting the versatility and expressive power of the instrument across genres and cultures. Rodolfo La Banca will perform with a soprano in works from Italy, Sue Newsome will present a guitar duo from Australia, and Carmen Borregoles will explore Venezuelan clarinet etudes, while UNICH Clarinet Ensemble from Thailand and Hyon Suk Kim (Canada/Korea) will showcase works integrating electronic media and global musical traditions. The evening continues with the Clarinet Ensemble Series, featuring innovative groups such as the Kaguya and Amadea Basset Horn trios from Japan, the Bass Clarinet Association of Canada, and Taiwan’s premiere Magic Clarinet Quartet, illustrating the diversity and reach of clarinet ensemble artistry worldwide. Incheon, South Korea The final day of ClarinetFest® 2026 opens with a Guinness World Record attempt, assembling clarinetists from the festival’s ensembles and individual participants in a mass performance celebrating the global clarinet community. We are hoping to gather a performing group of more than 500 clarinetists, and cordially invite all participants to join us to set this meaningful record. The closing concert culminates with _Clarinet Solos with Wind Ensemble_ , performed by the Republic of Korea Navy Band and distinguished soloists including Javier Llopis (Spain), Hosup Song (Korea), Soo-Young Lee (Estonia/Korea), Benjamin and Sai Sai Lulich (USA and China), and Jose Franch-Ballester (Canada/Spain). Throughout the week, the Clarinet Ensemble Series will feature ensembles representing the depth and variety of clarinet performance around the world: from Korea’s largest amateur clarinet club, JoyClarinet, to the high school ensemble SPIM from Thailand, to China’s CLH Ensemble and professional chamber groups from Italy, including the Italian Clarinet Consort. The series illustrates the instrument’s global reach and its ability to connect communities, both educational and professional. Clarisma (Hong Kong), a chamber ensemble dedicated to fusing traditional and contemporary works, and Traumerei (USA), which nurtures young clarinetists in New York and New Jersey, further underscore the festival’s commitment to pedagogy, innovation, and international collaboration. Republic of Korea Navy Band In addition to performances, ClarinetFest® 2026 offers master classes, clinics, workshops, and lecture-recitals across genres and styles. Students and professionals alike will have opportunities to engage with headliner artists, explore repertoire from across the globe, and participate in a vibrant community that reflects the ICA’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The exhibition hall at Songdo ConvensiA will showcase instruments, accessories, and technology for clarinetists of all levels, providing both a marketplace and a hub for interaction with industry leaders and innovators. With Incheon’s modern architecture, cultural richness, and convenient location near Incheon International Airport, participants can also enjoy guided excursions to experience Korean heritage, cuisine, and natural landscapes, adding a cultural dimension to their festival experience. Please visit the ICA’s website for information regarding Incheon Area, Seoul, and DMZ tour packages. ClarinetFest® 2026 promises an unforgettable celebration of the instrument, its performers, and its global community. Whether attending for performances, educational activities, or the opportunity to connect with colleagues from around the world, participants can expect a festival that is as ambitious in scope as it is rich in artistic experience. We look forward to welcoming clarinetists from every corner of the globe to Incheon this July. Incheon Art Center Hall * * * #### **CLARINETFEST® 2026 ARTIST ROSTER** _(Subject To Change)_ **HEADLINING ARTIST PERFORMERS** Carmen Borregoles Jerry Jae-il Chae Joë Christophe Vitor Fernandez Jose Franch-Ballester Kaguya Basset Horn Trio Hyon Suk Kim Yoonah Kim István Kohán Ko-Ko-Ya David Krakauer Do-Young Lee Se-Yeon Lee Soo-Young Lee Javier Llopis Benjamin Lulich Sai Sai Lulich Magic Clarinet Quartet Oriol Marès & Talal Fayad Quartet Sue Newsome and the Creole Encounters Rocco Parisi Penta-CLAM Christelle Pochet Rodolfo La Banca Seoul Clarinet Ensemble (Jung-Min Song and Hyungon Kim, directors) Eiji Taniguchi UNICH Clarinet Ensemble (Jetdilok Oumasa, director) * * * **ARTIST LIST** Francisco Javier de Alba Jason Alder Jeff Anderle Herson Amorim Joao Araujo Michael Bartnik Jean-Guy Boisvert Barbara Borowicz Jeffrey Brooks Nicole Canham Asher Carlson Vic Chavez Seungho Choi Jiyeon Choi Hwan Gyu Cho Jong-Hyun Andy Cho In-Hyuk Cho John Cipolla David Cook Philippe Cuper Agnieszka Dabrowska-Kras Lara Díaz Tanyawat Dilokkunanant Kristof Domotor Mary Druhan Gloria Orozco Dorado Blerim Emerllahu Calvin Falwell Kip Franklin Agustina Gabaglio Joshua Gardner Peter Geldrich George Gergiou Beverly Gibson Jose Gomez Angelina-Oniana Gotcheva Rochelle Gracilla Laura Grantier Jonathan Guist Amy Guffey Javier Vinasco Guzman Caroline Hartig Cosmin Harsian Maureen Hurd Hause Julia Heinen Steven Henry Bu-Chin Huang Scot Humes Kyusang Jeong Cecilia Kang Sangyoon Kim Taejeon Kim Wonkak Kim Melissa Kindy Dominic Koh Paul Kopetz David Kwek Hyeokwoo Kweon Maryanne Lacaille Eugene Lai Guiseppe Lentini Chin Lun Leung Chih-Chien Lin Zhu-Yuan Luo Christine MacDonnell Jenny Maclay Sarah Manasreh-Decker Jackie McIlwain Hidemi Mikai Osiris Molina Melissa Morales Matthew Nelson Christopher Nichols Pat O’Keefe Orit Orbach Michael Paar Francesca Peck Paolo Pellegrini Lara Dia Perez Thomas Piercy Richard Rourke Michael Rowlett Jhoser Salazar Go Seungwan Eric Shultz Sunshine Simmons Justin Stanley Jana Starling Carl-Johan Stjernstrom Nadia Sofokleous Jeongmin Song Chiho Sugo Gi-Hyun Sunwoo Wataru Takahashi Wantana Tancharoenpol Vanguel Tangarov Nick Thompson Brooks Thon Brendan Toohey Pei-Lun Tsai Ian Tyson Fevzi Onur Ustabas Eddy Vanoosthuyse Stephan Vermeersch Raquel Villarreal Piero Vincenti Elieen Walsh Catherine Wood Guy Yehuda Chen Yi Jun Yun Jonatas Zacarias Xiangyu Zhou * * * **CLARINET ENSEMBLES** Aichi University Clarinet Ensemble (Japan) Alla Rossi Quartet (Argentina) Buddy Clarinet Ensemble (Taiwan) Clarisma Ensemble (Hong Kong) CLARQuintet (Singapore) The Clh Clarinet Ensemble (China) Coastal Carolina University Clarinet Ensemble (USA) The C. U. Clarinet Ensemble (Thailand) Ensemble Clarinuts (International) The Fabulous Four Clarinet Quartet (International) Heyseed Clarinet Ensemble (Taiwan) Italian Clarinet Consort (Italy) Jeju Clarinet Choir (South Korea) JoyClarinet (South Korea) Klarisma Quartet (Germany) Latin Voices Trio (International) Luxembourg Clarinet Ensemble (Luxembourg) PhilClarinets Ensemble (Singapore) The Portiguar Clarinet Orchestra (Brazil) Royal Australian Air Force Band Quartet (Australia) The Singapore Armed Forces Central Band Clarinet Ensemble (Singapore) The SPIM Clarinet Ensemble (Thailand) Team Selmer Clarinet Ensemble (South Korea) Tekoha Clarinet Quintet (Brazil) Traumerei Clarinet Ensemble (USA) Trio Dépaysement (International) TRIO “Different Cultures” (International) Trio Downunder (Australia) University of South Florida Clarinet Ensemble (USA) University of Utah Clarinet Ensemble (USA) * * * https://clarinet.org/clarinetfest-2026-a-historic-celebration-in-incheon-south-korea/