The Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition Judges
2023 Judges To Be Announced
2022 Judges
Rick Vare, is a native of Syracuse, NY. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and clarinet performance from Ithaca College, where he studied clarinet with Robert Schmidt. He holds a master’s degree in clarinet performance from the University of Maryland where he studied with David Jones. His additional instructors include James Spadafore and Ralph D’Mello of Liverpool, N.Y., John Flaver Jr. of Syracuse, Ronald Caravan of Syracuse University, Ray McClellan of University of Georgia in Athens, and the late David Weber, former professor of clarinet at The Juilliard School of Music in New York. Mr. Vare has performed with the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., the Columbia Pro Cantare, the St. Mary’s Symphony Orchestra and the Chesapeake Orchestra in Maryland. He has conducted clinics and masterclasses at Ithaca College, Eastman School of Music, Cornell University, Gettysburg College, the University of Georgia and Casper College, as well as many high schools and junior high schools across the country. He has been a featured artist at the Clarinet Academy of America
Mr. Vare is a member of The United States Marine Band clarinet section, a position he has held for 29 years. In addition to solo performances he regularly performs on the Marine Band Chamber Series and is a frequent performer at the White House. He and his wife, Christin live in Bowie, MD and maintain a very active woodwind studio. |
Tiffani Perry received her B.M. from Peabody Conservatory of Music and M.M. from Catholic University of America. An active freelance musician in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. region, Tiffani has also performed in Asia and Europe. Tiffani currently maintains an active private clarinet studio in Bowie where her students have won numerous awards and positions, many of which have been accepted into top music schools and conservatories in the United States. Tiffani began working at Levine in 1994 where she remained on faculty until 2010, she recently rejoined the Levine family in the Spring of 2016. Prior to Levine, Tiffani was on faculty at the Mitchellville School of the Arts. Tiffani Perry was a student of Sidney Forrest. 
Alexandra (Sandra) Chappell graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet from Washburn University where she studied clarinet with James VanSlyke and minored in piano with artist in residence, James Rivers. Sandra received the annual faculty award “Most Outstanding Musician” upon degree completion. She went on to study clarinet with Sidney Forrest at the Peabody Conservatory and following graduation, began a career with the U.S. Naval Academy Band. The preferentially staffed band performed for many dignitaries including: Presidents Bush, Prime Minister Thatcher, General Schwartzkopf, General Colin Powell, Bob Hope, Tony Curtis, and Senator and POW, John McCain. A highlight of her career was performing solo passages under Maestro Leonard Slatkin for the Naval Academy’s 150th Anniversary Gala. She also played un der guest conductors: Frederick Fennell, James Barnes, David Holsinger, Robert Jager, and Anthony Maiello. Sandra was a clarinet soloist with the concert band, led the Woodwind Quintet, and performed on numerous recital series and ceremonies. She was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at the end of her 20- year military career as Principal Clarinetist and first Concertmistress of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Sandra studied clarinet with Robert DiLutis while she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet from the Catholic University of America. Highlights of her time there included performing as principal clarinetist of the orchestra for Pope Francis’s ceremo nial visit as well as the School of Music’s 50th anniversary gala concert for a sold-out crowd at the Kennedy Center. Sandra was chosen as a research competition finalist by the International Clarinet Association and was invited to present her work at their ClarinetFest in Ostend, Belgium, July, 2018.
Dr. Chappell is the clarinet teacher at Broadneck High School’s magnet music program and teaches clarinet and piano at her home studio. She performs with the Virginia Grand Military Band concert series and is invited to perform for band recordings for music publishing companies. She volunteered her time as a former coordinator of the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition for high school and college division clarinetists. |
