DIANA REENTS, CLARINET

Earliest Memories

I first heard about the LGSO from my friend Bethany Schultz. She was the principal clarinetist, and I attended the concert where she performed the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra. A few years later when she was leaving the orchestra she suggested I audition for her spot. My audition took place at Bethany’s apartment. She facetimed David and I played for him that way! This was in 2014 when video calling was still very new to me. It was definitely the first, and still only, time I’ve auditioned over a video call.

The first concert I played was in October 2014, and we performed Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony. Later that season we performed Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral, which 10 years later remains on my list of favorite pieces we’ve performed. Everyone in the ensemble has always been so friendly. I love how the players in the ensemble all have different careers and backgrounds, and our ages span many different decades. It’s such a special community of people joining together to make music.

Favorite Memories

I’ve really enjoyed making new friends in the ensemble, and also reconnecting with old friends. We’ve had so much fun during summer concerts, The Nutcracker, our gala fundraisers, and simply catching up on life during rehearsal breaks. I’ve also enjoyed playing in several chamber music concerts, most recently playing the Beethoven clarinet trio with my good friend and cellist Lori Meyer.

Favorite Pieces

Last season we performed Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony. It’s easy to put it at the top of the list for favorites because it’s just such good music. But I will never forget playing it because my father (and mom and brother) all flew in from across the country for the weekend to attend the concert. My dad was very sick from cancer, but hadn’t heard me play with an orchestra for many years and was determined to come. He made it to the concert, and loved it so much. He died just a couple weeks later, and I remain so thankful that he was able to be at that concert.

Evolution of the orchestra

One change I’ve noticed over the years is the quality of our performances keeps going up and up. It’s amazing that a group of volunteer musicians from all walks of life can get together and make such great music. I’ve also noticed our educational efforts continue to increase and reach more and more young people in the region. This includes our family concerts, school day concerts, private lesson scholarships and more.