2025 marks my fifth consecutive ClarinetFest, the annual flagship event of the International Clarinet Association that draws upwards of 3000 clarinetists from all over the world.
Like HiveFest, every year's gathering of like-minded musicians is held in a different city.
ClarinetFest 2022 was held in Reno, Nevada. I had to take a propeller plane to reach that hot gambling city. It was my first "real deal" speaking engagement.
ClarinetFest 2023 was held in Denver, Colorado. Instead of speaking, I performed in the Festival Clarinet Choir, which is an orchestra of all voices of clarinets. That was quite the leveling up for me, as it was the first time to play in a live ensemble for the first time since 2020.
ClarinetFest 2024 was held in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of speaking or performing I put money where my mouthpiece is 😬 and funded a scholarship for clarinetist @rochellegracilla one of our Creative Work Hour crew to attend for the first time.
ClarinetFest 2025 was held in "Cowtown", Texas and this go 'round I did all the thangs! I spoke, performed not one but two concerts with completely different ensembles, and funded a scholarship. As I'm writing this post it occurs to me that if I were hearing a friend tell me this set of accomplishments, I'd call it a trifecta!
Where in Tarnation Is "Cowtown"?
Cowtown is the moniker for Fort Worth, Texas, the smaller city to neighbouring Dallas which is better known for the oil industry. Fort Worth earned the nickname because of its historic role in the cattle industry, specifically as a major stop on the Chisholm Trail in the late 19th century. The Fort Worth Stockyards are known the world over as a major market where cattle were bought, sold, and shipped.
What is "Hell's Half Acre"?
Not only is Cowtown a famous moniker, but the part of Cowtown where the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the Fort Worth Convention reside are in the part of town called, "Hell's Half Acre." The area was legendary for shoot 'em ups, saloons, and it's own "Gunsmoke- style red light district.
Hive's Creative Work Hour Brings Musicians to the International Stage
It's possible that you may have already heard of Creative Work Hour, the Hive Community (if not, read on and I'll hook you up). One of the important facets of CWH is the add-on daily music practice sessions called Practice Not Perfect (PNP). It's a daily place to come and practice where you can see others practice, but we do so with mics muted. The idea is simple but effective. A plethoral of studies show that mirroring in creative work and music practice supercharges the result of your efforts.
A regular to CWH & PNP is @rochellegracilla. Rochelle and I were both presenters at the 2025 ClarinetFest. On 10 July, Rochelle spoke on the importance of musicians cross-training for health and longevity, similar to the practice by elite athletes.
On Friday, 11 July, I taught the musicians about how to maximise their inspiration and ease while minimising anxiety and body tension through the use of self-hypnosis. Bringing this modality to practice and rehearsals makes it easier for performers to use it for playing in front of live audiences.
10,000 Clarinets Can't Be Wrong
To give you a sense of what the conference is like, I'll say that ClarinetFest takes on the dust and grit of a cattle drive. There are 2900+ clarinetists teaching, rehearsing, performing, networking and visiting the exhibition hall, were there are hundreds and hundreds of clarinets to try, from the tiny Eb clarinet to the mighty Contrabass. Of all the makers represented in the hall, I have to give the creativity award to the premiere clarinet makers from France, Henri Selmer Paris for their take on the Texas clarinet drive.
Even the 140-year old fancy-pants "licorice-stick" maker Henri Selmer of Paris is puttin' on the dawg for ClarinetFest.
My aim in sharing this post with y'all is to give you a sense of what this big as Texas ClarinetFest. My next post will cover more of the musical aspects of the experience.
But for now, I want to play you out with a country western cover band I tripped across when I crashed the final party of another convention at the Omni Hotel -Fort Worth. I wish I knew the name of the players, but I didn't ask as I was an interloper. I hope you feel a kick of energy from this unknown band playing Gretchen Wilson's "Red Neck Woman."
Curious About Practice Not Perfect? Let's Jam Quietly 🤫
Are you a musician and would enjoy support with your own practice?
We hold sessions everyday, but no one hears you practice, as we are on mute 🔇 when we work.
Reach out to me on Discord at alessandrawhite to receive your invite or a tour.
Learn more at https://creativeworkhour.com