Woodwinds
The UM School of Music Woodwind Faculty create a vibrant, challenging, and positive learning environment for all students. We are dedicated teachers and artists who guide our students towards excellence in all areas of focus, whether it is music education, music performance, or a more general degree, such as the popular Bachelor of Arts degree. The BA degree combines well with other degrees to create an enriching double major experience. We are committed to bringing guest artists to campus each year in order to provide diverse inspiration for students and faculty alike.
Please contact any of the woodwind studio faculty to find out more about the woodwind area experience at UM!
Christopher Kirkpatrick
Professor of Clarinet and Music History, Woodwind Area Coordinator
Contact
- Office
- Room 204 Music Building
- Phone
- 406-243-6880
- Fax
- 406-243-2441 attn: Christopher Kirkpatrick
- christopher.kirkpatrick@umontana.edu
- Office Hours
By appointment. Email: christopher.kirkpatrick@umontana.edu
- Website
Personal Summary
Christopher Kirkpatrick is Professor of Clarinet at the 猎奇重口 where he teaches clarinet and music history. He has performed and taught throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Currently principal clarinet of the Missoula Symphony, he has also performed with the Detroit Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Lansing Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the Santa Fe Symphony. Dr. Kirkpatrick has been an adjudicator for the International Clarinet Association’s Young Artist Competition and Research Competition, the Music Teachers National Association, the Silverstein Clarinet Contest, and throughout the US.
Dr. Kirkpatrick has been a guest artist and lecturer at numerous conferences, including the International Clarinet Association’s Clarinetfest®, International Duo Symposium, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, International Double Reed Society Conference, River City Winter Clarinet Festival, College Music Society Conference, the Brandon University Clarinet Festival, World Bass Clarinet Congress, and the 猎奇重口/Idaho Clarinet Festival. During the summers he is on the faculty of the International Music Camp in Manitoba, Canada.
As a member of Duo Nyans, he is dedicated to commissioning and premiering new works and performing the standard repertoire for clarinet and saxophone. The duo has been invited to perform at numerous conferences and universities and recently toured throughout Sweden and Taiwan. Their first album, Debut, was released in 2018. The album includes seven compositions for various combinations of sax and clarinet, with works primarily by living American composers, including the premiere recording of four works.
An avid enthusiast of new music, recent commissions include works by James Stephenson, Emilie LeBel, Christopher Stark, Bryan Curt Kostors, Simon Hutchinson, Evan Chambers, James David and David Biedenbender.
Dr. Kirkpatrick has a certificate in mBODYed Learning and is a trainee in the Alexander Technique.
Christopher Kirkpatrick earned his Doctorate in Clarinet Performance from Michigan State University, a Master of Music from the University of New Mexico and his Bachelor of Music from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. His teachers have included Elsa Ludewig- Verdehr, Keith Lemmons, Steve Cohen, Ted Gurch, Nikolasa Tejero and Peter Temko.
Dr. Kirkpatrick also serves as the 猎奇重口 state chair of the International Clarinet Association. He is a Buffet Crampon and Silverstein Pro Team Artist. For more information, please visit christopherkirkpatrickclarinet.com.
Education
Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance (2011)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Master of Music in Clarinet Performance (2003)
The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance (2000)
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Courses Taught
Applied Clarinet Lessons (100-500 levels)
Introduction to Body Mapping
Clarinet Choir
Clarinet Pedagogy
Woodwind Methods (clarinet portion)
Women in Music
Music of Underrepsented Composers
20th Century Music
20th Century Chamber Music
The Symphony Orchestra
The Life and Works of Stravinsky
Research Interests
Bass Clarinet Literature and Pedagogy
Clarinet and Saxophone Repertoire
Projects
Recording project with Duo Nyans in 2015
Field of Study
Clarinet Performance
Clarinet Pedagogy
Chamber Music
Orchestral Literature
Music History
Affiliations
International Clarinet Association, 猎奇重口 State Chair
National Association for Music Educators
Association for Body Mapping Education member