The Musicians
Marci Gurnow (Clarinet)
Member of the JSO: Since 2006
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Education: Marci earned her Bachelor’s degree in music performance from Southern Methodist University, where she studied with Paul Garner and Steve Girko, and received her Master’s degree in music performance from Northwestern University, where she studied with Russ Dagon and Lawrie Bloom.
Other instruments played: Marci is also bass clarenetist for the Jacksonville Symphony. Anything in the clarinet family... she plays it. "I especially love the lower end of the clarinet spectrum, including the basset clarinet, basset horn, and bass clarinet."
Why the clarinet? I started off playing piano in fifth grade. Once I started sixth grade, I was thrilled that I had the option of only having to read one line of music at a time if I chose to play in band. It was a close call between clarinet and trombone, but clarinet was much easier to carry home on the bus!
Performance experience: Prior to her position with Jacksonville, Marci was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for three years. While in Chicago, she was privileged to play under renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, and Lorin Maazel. Marci has also performed with other orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Naples Philharmonic. She has participated in orchestral and chamber concerts at the Bellingham Festival of Music in Washington, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. Marci is also a founding member of the Chicago-based International Chamber Artists and looks forward to her annual chamber music concerts with them.