Schulich School of Music of McGill University Concerts and Publicity 555 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1E3 Phone: (514) 398-8101; Fax: (514) 398-5514

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Schulich Year of Woodwinds - LARRY COMBS, November 10-13, 2009 For immediate release

Montreal, November 4, 2009 – Larry Combs, Former Principal Clarinet of Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be in residence at the Schulich School of Music next week as part of the Schulich Year of Woodwinds. Woodwind students and faculty are delighted that Combs will give 5 masterclasses and a recital as one of the Schulich Year of Woodwinds artists for 2009-2010. Works to be performed in recital include the Mozart Kegelstatt trio K. 498, the Brahms Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120 and the Mozart Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in A major, K. 581. Pianist Philip Chiu, violist Marcin Swoboda and the Cecilia String Quartet will participate. All events, including the concert, are free and open to the public, no tickets are required.

Masterclasses:

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:00 p.m. C-201 Thursday, November 12, 2009 11:00 a.m. Tanna Schulich Hall Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:30 p.m. Tanna Schulich Hall Friday, November 13, 2009 10:00 a.m. Tanna Schulich Hall Friday, November 13, 2009 3:30 p.m. Tanna Schulich Hall

Concert:

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 7:30 p.m. Tanna Schulich Hall

Larry Combs joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1974 and was appointed principal clarinet by Sir in 1978. He has since appeared as soloist with the Orchestra on numerous occasions in works by Copland, Mozart, Brahms- Berio, Debussy, Corigliano and Rouse. He also has been featured many times on CSO tour concerts performing 's arrangement of "Chicago" for clarinet and orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Combs is a founding member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and he has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Smithsonian Chamber Ensemble. His notable chamber music experiences include joining then CSO Music Director and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Brahms' Trio in A Minor at Orchestra Hall in 1996 and performances at the Ravinia Festival with former Music Director .

In 2002, he received his second Grammy Award for his recording of ' Duett-Concertino with CSO Principal Bassoon David McGill and Daniel Barenboim conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His recent recording of music for winds and strings by Mozart with the Chicago Chamber Musicians was nominated for a 2006 Grammy Award. Combs has also recorded as soloist and chamber musician on the Erato, Sony, Cedille, Crystal and Summit labels. Prior to joining the Chicago Symphony, Combs was a member of the New Orleans and Montreal orchestras and of the Santa Fe Opera. In 2008, Mr. Combs retired after 34 years with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Tanna Schulich Hall is located at 527 Sherbrooke St. West; C-201 is at 555 Sherbrooke St. West.

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Media Contact: Alain Labonté Communications: 514-523-9922 McGill Contact: Louise Ostiguy, Concerts and Publicity, 514-398-8933