Clarinetist Julian Bliss will visit UCF for three events including the UCF Wind Ensemble concert on Friday, Feb.26, and UCF Clarinet Day and the Youth Band of Orlando concert on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Bliss has performed in the world’s leading venues and festivals as a soloist and chamber musician. The musical explorer started playing clarinet at the age of 4, and performed at the Buckingham Palace Golden Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 13. Today, Bliss inspires young players as a masterclass leader, guest lecturer, recording artist, and creator of the Leblanc Bliss Clarinet.

Bliss’ upcoming visit will include rehearsals and performances with the UCF Wind Ensemble and the Youth Band of Orlando, as well as a guest artist presentation at UCF Clarinet Day.

The UCF Wind Ensemble concert will take place on Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at Winter Park High School. Bliss will be the featured soloist on Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2, and the rest of the program will feature works by Taruya, Ticheli, Balmages and Tchaikovsky.

The 26th annual UCF Clarinet Day will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, from 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the UCF Rehearsal Hall Auditorium, Room 116 – with registration starting at noon. The day will feature activities designed for high school, college and community clarinet players, including performances, master class, and mass clarinet choir reading session. Bliss will teach a masterclass for the UCF Clarinet studio and serve as guest speaker for the day.

“With Bliss’ performance at UCF Clarinet Day, the audience will have the opportunity to hear his clarinet artistry of impressive technique and excellent musicianship,” said UCF professor of music Keith Koons. “And with the masterclass, he will offer comments for the improvement and education for everyone attending.”

The Youth Band of Orlando concert will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. in the UCF Visual Arts Building Auditorium, Room 132. Bliss will be the featured soloist on Gioachino Rossini’s “Introduction, Theme and Variations,” with the rest of the program featuring the Youth Band performing works by Fillmore, Hanson and Hazo.

The UCF Wind Ensemble Concert and the Youth Band of Orlando Concert will be free and open to the public. Tickets for UCF Clarinet Day may be purchased in advance online or from the UCF School of Performing Arts Box Office and are $25 for general admission, and free for students with UCF IDs.

“Bliss is currently regarded as one of the finest clarinetists in the world, and we are fortunate to have him joining us for a few days,” said Scott Tobias, director of bands and assistant professor of music at UCF.

Bliss commits his passion for music education through his position as Patron of the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians, and his contributions were recognized with the appointment as an associate of the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has extensive appearances year-round as a guest lecturer in schools and colleges.

Bliss’ upcoming visit to UCF is sponsored by Conn-Selmer Inc. through a partnership from the recent formation of the Youth Band of Orlando, which is underwritten by Conn-Selmer and its subsidiary American Youth Ensembles.  

For more information about the UCF School of Performing Arts, visit https://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu.