Biography

Mitchell Estrin is Associate Professor of Clarinet at the University of Florida and Music Director and Conductor of the University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble. Concurrently, he holds the position of Education & Creative Development Manager for Buffet Crampon USA, Inc. He also serves as the Artistic Director of the annual Buffet Crampon/Vandoren Clarinet Ensemble Festival and the Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy.

Mitchell Estrin studied clarinet with Stanley Drucker at The Juilliard School where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees and was a Naumburg Scholar. He has a 27-year association with the New York Philharmonic, where he has performed in more than 2,000 concerts as principal, second, and E-flat clarinetist under such distinguished conductors as Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Erich Leinsdorf, Sir Georg Solti, Claudio Abbado, Klaus Tennstedt, Andre Previn, and Leonard Slatkin. He has accompanied the orchestra on 19 international tours, made dozens of recordings with the orchestra, and on numerous occasions performed with the Philharmonic on the PBS award winning series, Live From Lincoln Center. Mr. Estrin continues to perform periodically as a guest artist with the orchestra.

As an international concert artist, Mitchell Estrin has performed in 37 countries on four continents. During a recent visit to the Czech Republic, he performed and recorded with the Janacek Philharmonic in the world premiere of The Shadows of October for clarinet and orchestra by Michael Whalen. The work was recorded on the Arabesque label and the CD is being aired on classical radio stations internationally. The recording was reviewed in The Clarinet, which stated: “This beautiful and lushly scored tonal piece…. is performed by clarinetist Mitchell Estrin…. He plays beautifully with a lovely colored tone.”

An active chamber musician, he has performed with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New Arts Trio, been an Artist-in-Residence at the Newport Music Festival, and was a founding member of the Amadeus Ensemble. The ensemble recorded a critically acclaimed series of wind chamber music for Musical Heritage Society. Recent chamber music projects include recordings of wind serenades by Dvorak and Mozart with the American Chamber Winds, and Monochrome III by Peter Schickele under the composer’s direction.

Prof. Estrin has presented recitals, masterlasses, workshops, and seminars at educational conferences and institutions throughout the United States, including the Eastman School of Music, Florida State University, New York State School Music Association, Connecticut School Music Association, and Florida Music Educators Association. He has performed in recital at the University of Florida with clarinetists Stanley Drucker, Karl Leister, and Mark Nuccio. Prof. Estrin has conducted the University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble throughout the United States, including two feature recitals at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest. The ensemble has recently recorded its first CD, entitled Wind in the Reeds, which is scheduled for release in late 2006.

As a studio musician, Mr. Estrin has recorded dozens of motion picture soundtracks for Columbia Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, United Artists, and Warner Brothers on feature films including The Alamo, Intolerable Cruelty, The Score, You’ve Got Mail, Primary Colors, Fargo, Batman Forever, Interview With a Vampire, Home Alone 2, Pocahontas, Aladdin, Doc Hollywood, Regarding Henry, Beauty and the Beast, The Untouchables, Reds, and Dressed to Kill. His television credits include recordings for ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, HBO, TBS, and ESPN. In 2002, Mr. Estrin performed as principal clarinetist for the NBC 75th Anniversary Special; a live three-hour television broadcast from the famed NBC Studio 8H in New York City. He has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Phil Donahue Show, the television series Nurse, and in Kramer vs. Kramer, the 1980 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture. His clarinet playing has also been heard on hundreds of television and radio commercials. In 1988, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognized him for his outstanding performance as a recording artist.

Mitchell Estrin performs exclusively on the Buffet Crampon R-13 clarinet. As a Vandoren Performing Artist, he endorses and performs on Vandoren reeds and mouthpieces. His biography is listed in Who’s Who in American Music and Who’s Who in International Music.