AN EVENING OF CLARINET & STRINGS:
The Enterprise Quartet with Kornel Wolak, clarinet
Johannes Brahms
Sunday, February 15, 2015 | 8PM
Convocation Hall, University of Alberta
Free Admission
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op.115 (1891)
and selections by Vivaldi, Bach, Paganini, de Abreau, and Gershwin
– Thanks to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton Community Foundation and the Department of Music, U Alberta –
enterprisequartet.com | twitter: @enterprise4tet
KORNEL WOLAK (clarinetist) performs as featured soloist and chamber musician in a wide variety of genres. His 2014/15 season includes performances and masterclasses in Ontario and British Columbia (Canada), New York, Ecuador, and his home country of Poland. With pianist Chris Donnelly, Kornel formed the Wolak Donnelly Duo, known for audience talks, diverse repertoire – including works from Mozart to Gershwin, and school and community outreach. The Duo is especially proud to have performed for Canadian audiences from coast to coast.
As soloist, Mr. Wolak performed the Canadian premiere of John Adams’ “Gnarly Buttons” Clarinet Concerto broadcast on CBC Radio 2, and Marc Neikrug’s “Though Roses” at Glenn Gould Studio. Other solo appearances have included performances with the Toronto Sinfonietta, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra, Niagara-on-the Lake Festival Orchestra, Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra “Amadeus”, and Charleston Symphony Orchestra. As chamber musician, Mr. Wolak has appeared with the Wieniawski String Quartet, Glenn Gould String Quartet, Lodos Wind Quintet, Silver Birch String Quartet, and Borealis String Quartet. He was also a member of the renowned Quartetto Gelato.
In December 2014, Kornel earned his Doctorate Degree from the Paderewski Music Academy in Poznan, Poland. He appears as guest clinician lecturing on variety of topics related to clarinet repertoire, performances practice, reed making and technique. Mr. Wolak is also extremely devoted to music education; he established Music Mind Canada (MMC), an initiative that creates educational programs for schools and interested groups. MMC has performed throughout North America. Kornel Wolak is a regular fixture on the airwaves in Canada, the United States, and Poland. He is also a “Fryderyk” nominee, Poland’s highest recording award.
Upcoming events include a recording of M. Weinberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 4 (solo clarinet and string orchestra) for Polish Radio Label, a tour of the Western United States as part of the Wolak-Donnelly Duo, a solo recital tour in Poland, and several lectures and masterclasses.