Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr
Encyclopedia
Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr is an American clarinetist and music educator whose contributions to the Verdehr Trio
have resulted in an extensive modern body of work for the clarinet-violin-piano trio medium.
, where she studied with George Waln. She went on to study with the legendary Stanley Hasty
at the Eastman School of Music
, where she earned both a Performer's Certificate (1958) and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree (1964). While studying at Eastman, Ludewig-Verdehr was an instructor of clarinet from 1959–1962 at Ithaca College
, where one of her former students, Richard Faria, is presently an Associate Professor of clarinet. Ludewig-Verdehr accepted an Assistant Professor position at Michigan State University
in 1962, and has been a full Professor there since 1977. She received the Distinguished Professor Award from MSU in 1979.
In addition to teaching , Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr has had a prolific carer as a soloist and as a member of the pioneering Verdehr Trio
. She co-founded the trio in 1972 with other Michigan State faculty members, including her husband and violinist Walter Verdehr, and pianist David Renner. Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick
would later become the trio's first regular pianist in 1980. Boasting a list of over 100 new commissioned works from over fifty composers the trio has expanded the breadth of the clarinet trio repertoire to include contemporary works by some of today's most important living composers, such as Karel Husa
, Libby Larsen
, Gunther Schuller
, and Dan Welcher
.
As the result of studying with clarinetist Harold Wright
while attending the Marlboro Music Festival
, Ludewig-Verdehr employs a double-lip embouchure, wherein the upper lip wraps around the top teeth, which are normally in direct contact with the mouthpiece of the clarinet. The effect is to open the mouth and alter the placement of the tongue for a rounder, fuller sound. Other famous clarinetists who have performed using double-lip embouchure include Reginald Kell
, Kalmen Opperman
, and Richard Stoltzman
.
Verdehr Trio
The Verdehr Trio is a chamber ensemble that has worked to promote the clarinet-violin-piano trio repertoire through international commissions, recordings, and performances. The trio features Walter Verdehr on violin, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr on clarinet, and Silvia Roederer on piano...
have resulted in an extensive modern body of work for the clarinet-violin-piano trio medium.
Biography
Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr received Bachelor of Music degrees in both clarinet performance and music education from the Oberlin Conservatory of MusicOberlin Conservatory of Music
The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, located on the campus of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, was founded in 1865 and is the oldest continuously operating conservatory in the United States. Students of Oberlin Conservatory enter a very broad network within the music world, as the school's alumni...
, where she studied with George Waln. She went on to study with the legendary Stanley Hasty
D. Stanley Hasty
Donald Stanley Hasty was professor emeritus of clarinet at the Eastman School of Music....
at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
, where she earned both a Performer's Certificate (1958) and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree (1964). While studying at Eastman, Ludewig-Verdehr was an instructor of clarinet from 1959–1962 at Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
, where one of her former students, Richard Faria, is presently an Associate Professor of clarinet. Ludewig-Verdehr accepted an Assistant Professor position at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1962, and has been a full Professor there since 1977. She received the Distinguished Professor Award from MSU in 1979.
In addition to teaching , Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr has had a prolific carer as a soloist and as a member of the pioneering Verdehr Trio
Verdehr Trio
The Verdehr Trio is a chamber ensemble that has worked to promote the clarinet-violin-piano trio repertoire through international commissions, recordings, and performances. The trio features Walter Verdehr on violin, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr on clarinet, and Silvia Roederer on piano...
. She co-founded the trio in 1972 with other Michigan State faculty members, including her husband and violinist Walter Verdehr, and pianist David Renner. Pianist Gary Kirkpatrick
Gary Kirkpatrick
Gary Kirkpatrick is an American Concert Pianist hailing from Kansas. He is the recipient of the Top Prize in the International Piano Competition in Jaen, Spain and the Stepenov Piano Competition. He made his New York City debut at Carnegie Recital Hall. He has maintained an active career as...
would later become the trio's first regular pianist in 1980. Boasting a list of over 100 new commissioned works from over fifty composers the trio has expanded the breadth of the clarinet trio repertoire to include contemporary works by some of today's most important living composers, such as Karel Husa
Karel Husa
Karel Husa is a Czech-born classical composer and conductor, winner of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize and 1993 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Music Composition...
, Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen
Libby Larsen is one of America’s most performed living composers. She has created a catalogue of over 400 works spanning virtually every genre from intimate vocal and chamber music to massive orchestral works and over fifteen operas...
, Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller
Gunther Schuller is an American composer, conductor, horn player, author, historian, and jazz musician.- Biography and works :...
, and Dan Welcher
Dan Welcher
Dan Welcher is an American composer, conductor, and music educator.- Biography :Welcher was born in Rochester, New York and earned degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, studying bassoon, piano, and composition...
.
As the result of studying with clarinetist Harold Wright
Harold Wright (clarinetist)
Harold Wright was principal clarinetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1970 to 1993.Wright was born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and began his clarinet studies at age twelve. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia as a student of Ralph McLane of the...
while attending the Marlboro Music Festival
Marlboro Music School and Festival
The Marlboro Music School and Festival is a retreat for advanced classical training and musicianship held for seven weeks each summer in Marlboro, Vermont...
, Ludewig-Verdehr employs a double-lip embouchure, wherein the upper lip wraps around the top teeth, which are normally in direct contact with the mouthpiece of the clarinet. The effect is to open the mouth and alter the placement of the tongue for a rounder, fuller sound. Other famous clarinetists who have performed using double-lip embouchure include Reginald Kell
Reginald Kell
Reginald Clifford Kell was a British clarinetist.-Career:Born in York, England, Kell was the first prominent player to apply vibrato consciously and consistently to his tone, in which respect he modelled himself on his colleague the oboist Léon Goossens...
, Kalmen Opperman
Kalmen Opperman
Kalmen Opperman was an American clarinetist. He was a noted performer, teacher, conductor, mouthpiece and barrel maker , composer, and writer of numerous clarinet studies....
, and Richard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman is an American clarinetist. Born Richard Leslie Stoltzman in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part of the faculty list at the New England Conservatory...
.
Select List of Former Students and Current Positions
- Richard Faria, Associate Professor of Clarinet at Ithaca CollegeIthaca CollegeIthaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
in Ithaca, NY - Mickey Ireland, Staff Sergeant with the United States Air Force Band of LibertyUnited States Air Force Band of LibertyThe United States Air Force Band of Liberty is a United States military band of forty-five active duty members, based at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
- Amanda McCandless, Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Northern IowaUniversity of Northern IowaThe University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
- Michael Norsworthy, Professor of Clarinet and Woodwind Admissions Coordinator at the Boston ConservatoryBoston ConservatoryThe Boston Conservatory is a performing arts conservatory located in the Fenway-Kenmore region of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater...
- Maxine Ramey, Interim Department Chair of Clarinet and History at the University of Montana
- Dawn Marie Lindblade, Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Central OklahomaUniversity of Central OklahomaThe University of Central Oklahoma, often referred to as UCO, is a coeducational public university located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The university is the third largest in Oklahoma, with almost 18,000 students and approximately 434 full-time and 400 adjunct faculty...