Todd Brunel
Encyclopedia
Todd Brunel is a clarinetist who leads a dual life as a crossover classical and jazz
musician. In the world premiere event, 'From Requiem to Renewal' at Boston College
, "clarinetist Todd Brunel and pianist Synthia Sture played with tremendous virtuosity and heart."
He has premiered numerous works by such composers as Matthew D. Harder, Rick Sowash, Ara Sarkissian, the Alta Voz Composers Alliance, Vuk Kulenovic
, Ludmilla Germain, Arnesto Klar, Pamela Watson, Vache Sharyfyan and composer/conductor Lawrence 'Butch' Morris
. He collaborated with saxophonist Bobby Watson
(as principal clarinetist with the Opera Ebony
of Harlem) and has performed with such groups as ALEA III, the American Opera Musical Theater Company, the Andover Chamber Players, the Greenwich Village Orchestra
and many New York
and Boston
area orchestras.
Brunel has made guest appearances at Carnegie Hall
, Harvard University
, the Boston
and New England Conservatories, the Manhattan School, the SEAMUS Festival and the Winter Sun Music Festival, where he collaborated with legendary pianist Dalton Baldwin
. Brunel is the artistic director of the Black Dust Ensemble, a featured performance group with the 'Musica Eclectica' Series at Eastern Nazarene College
. As a jazz/improvisational musician and composer, he produced and performed in the critically acclaimed 'Vortex Series' for improvisational music, which was the jazz "pick of the week" in the Boston Phoenix
and The Boston Globe.
He has been a featured artist at Rob Chalfen's Subconscious Cafe in collaboration with such groups as Andalusian Dream, the Circadian Rhythm Kings and such artists as pianist David Maxwell, violinist Katt Hernandez
and cellist Daniel Levin. In New York, Brunel recorded the electro-acoustic work 'She Stood Weeping' by composer George 'Skip' Brunner, which gained international recognition. He has worked with saxophonists James Carter
and Blaise Siwula, and continues his collaborations with singer/songwriter Lilli Lewis, with whom he has made numerous radio and television appearances across the United States. In a review of the recording "The Blind Man" from the album The Coming of John, the gods of music.com described his playing in the plural: "Sweeping solos blown in a diverse stream of study nothingness.........played by true cats, heavy pros".
Brunel has been a guest artist at ABC No Rio, Art Beat Festival, Smalls, CGBG's Gallery, the National Black Arts Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. He has premiered his own compositions at Dartmouth College
, the Longy School of Music
, Boston University
and the Electric Rainbow Coalition Festival. His website clarinetconspiracy.com is dedicated to innovative music and challenges mainstream musical convention.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician. In the world premiere event, 'From Requiem to Renewal' at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, "clarinetist Todd Brunel and pianist Synthia Sture played with tremendous virtuosity and heart."
He has premiered numerous works by such composers as Matthew D. Harder, Rick Sowash, Ara Sarkissian, the Alta Voz Composers Alliance, Vuk Kulenovic
Vuk Kulenovic
Vuk Kulenovic is a contemporary composer and teacher based in Boston, Massachusetts. He teaches counterpoint, orchestration and directed study at Berklee College of Music. He actively composes and has commissions from around the world. His influences are wide-tanging, including jazz, Indian ragas,...
, Ludmilla Germain, Arnesto Klar, Pamela Watson, Vache Sharyfyan and composer/conductor Lawrence 'Butch' Morris
Butch Morris
Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris is an American jazz cornetist, composer and conductor.-Biography:Before his musical career, Morris served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War....
. He collaborated with saxophonist Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson is an American post-bop jazz alto saxophonist, composer, producer, and educator. Watson now has 26 recordings as a leader. He appears on nearly 100 other recordings as either co-leader or in a supporting role...
(as principal clarinetist with the Opera Ebony
Opera Ebony
Opera Ebony is an African-American opera company.Performances of Mozart in Harlem to African-American Heritage concerts in Iceland. Gershwin in Moscow to Duke Ellington in the Caribbean. Benjamin Matthews, Sister Mary Elise S.B.S. and Wayne Sanders founded Opera Ebony in 1973...
of Harlem) and has performed with such groups as ALEA III, the American Opera Musical Theater Company, the Andover Chamber Players, the Greenwich Village Orchestra
Greenwich Village Orchestra
The Greenwich Village Orchestra is a semi-professional orchestra based in the heart of Greenwich Village. It is made up of volunteer musicians and performs six scheduled concerts per season from September to June...
and many New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
area orchestras.
Brunel has made guest appearances at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, the Boston
Boston Conservatory
The 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...
and New England Conservatories, the Manhattan School, the SEAMUS Festival and the Winter Sun Music Festival, where he collaborated with legendary pianist Dalton Baldwin
Dalton Baldwin
Dalton Baldwin is an American collaborative pianist. He has made over 100 recordings and has won numerous prizes working with Elly Ameling and Gérard Souzay.-External links:*...
. Brunel is the artistic director of the Black Dust Ensemble, a featured performance group with the 'Musica Eclectica' Series at Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern Nazarene College
The Eastern Nazarene College is a private, coeducational college of the liberal arts and sciences in Quincy, Massachusetts near Boston, in the New England region of the United States. Known for its strong religious affiliation, distinctive liberal arts core curriculum, and excellence in science...
. As a jazz/improvisational musician and composer, he produced and performed in the critically acclaimed 'Vortex Series' for improvisational music, which was the jazz "pick of the week" in the Boston Phoenix
The Phoenix (newspaper)
The Phoenix is the name of several alternative weekly newspapers published in the United States by Phoenix Media/Communications Group of Boston, Massachusetts including the Boston Phoenix, the Providence Phoenix, the Portland Phoenix and the now-defunct Worcester Phoenix...
and The Boston Globe.
He has been a featured artist at Rob Chalfen's Subconscious Cafe in collaboration with such groups as Andalusian Dream, the Circadian Rhythm Kings and such artists as pianist David Maxwell, violinist Katt Hernandez
Katt Hernandez
Katt Hernandez is a violinist living in Stockholm, Sweden with strong connection to Boston, Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland. Katt's violin playing employs many virtuostic extended techniques, as well as microtones. Her influences range a vast gamut of music, and...
and cellist Daniel Levin. In New York, Brunel recorded the electro-acoustic work 'She Stood Weeping' by composer George 'Skip' Brunner, which gained international recognition. He has worked with saxophonists James Carter
James Carter (musician)
James Carter is an American jazz musician.Carter was born in Detroit, Michigan and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet...
and Blaise Siwula, and continues his collaborations with singer/songwriter Lilli Lewis, with whom he has made numerous radio and television appearances across the United States. In a review of the recording "The Blind Man" from the album The Coming of John, the gods of music.com described his playing in the plural: "Sweeping solos blown in a diverse stream of study nothingness.........played by true cats, heavy pros".
Brunel has been a guest artist at ABC No Rio, Art Beat Festival, Smalls, CGBG's Gallery, the National Black Arts Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. He has premiered his own compositions at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, the Longy School of Music
Longy School of Music
The Longy School of Music of Bard College is a conservatory located near Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1915, it was one of the four independent degree-granting music schools in the Boston region along with the New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, and Boston...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and the Electric Rainbow Coalition Festival. His website clarinetconspiracy.com is dedicated to innovative music and challenges mainstream musical convention.