After successful clarinet auditions on May 16, 2016 to fill two vacancies, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert DiLutis as Principal Clarinet and Brian Eldridge as Second Clarinet. The day-long process involved applicants from all over the country.
Robert DiLutis is currently Professor of Clarinet at the University of Maryland School of Music in College Park, MD. Previously, DiLutis was Professor at the Louisiana State University, Assistant Principal and E-flat Clarinetist with the Rochester Philharmonic and Professor of Clarinet at the Eastman School. Making his Carnegie Hall Recital debut in 1989, DiLutis has also performed as featured soloist with the San Antonio Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic. Recently DiLutis toured with the New York Philharmonic on its historic trip to Pyongyang, North Korea. DiLutis is a graduate of the Juilliard School where he studied with David Weber. In addition to his performance career, DiLutis is the creator of the Reed Machine, a reed-making device used by professionals around the world. DiLutis is an Artist for Buffet and Principal Clarinetist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. His new DVD/CD Clarinet at Maryland, is available at CDBaby.com and GumRoad.com.
Carroll County native Brian Eldridge received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, where he studied music education and clarinet with John Weigand. Eldridge went on to receive his master’s from University of Michigan in clarinet performance, where he studied with Fred Ormand. Eldridge joined the US Army Field Band in 2005 and has played there since and has participated in approximately 30 concert tours around the United States. He also enjoys playing chamber music and has played recitals in many colleges and public-school clinics as well. In addition to Annapolis and the US Army Field Band, Eldridge has played with the West Virginia Symphony and the Windsor Symphony in Ontario. Eldridge is married to a violinist and has three young children.
Audiences will be able to hear the Annapolis Symphony’s new clarinetists together for the first time at Pops in the Park when they join the orchestra for the first concert of the 2016-2017 season. The annual Pops in the Park concert is one of the Symphony’s most popular programs. Presented free of charge on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 5:30pm at Anne Arundel County’s Quiet Waters Park amphitheater, it is a highlight of Labor Day Weekend. This family-friendly concert is perfect for all ages and features pops favorites and light classics performed by the entire orchestra. In case of rain the concert will be rescheduled on Monday September 5, 2016 at 5:30pm.