Bio

Michael Isadore's versatile clarinet career involves performances as an orchestral and chamber musician, concerto soloist, recitalist, lecturer and teacher. Isadore holds positions as bass clarinetist with the Symphony of Southeast Texas, acting principal clarinet with the Victoria Symphony and second clarinet with the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society. As a soloist, Isadore has performed concertos with the South Texas Symphony Orchestra, Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra, Houston Civic Symphony and the Houston Sinfonietta. As a freelance clarinetist, Isadore is on many of the professional orchestra sub lists and has performed with the Houston Symphony.

As a chamber musician, Isadore is founder, clarinetist, and conductor of the möbius chamber ensemble. The möbius chamber ensemble's unique mission is to present a varied repertoire and instrumentation to the audience, breaking the mold of a stagnant group of players performing like-minded repertoire. Based around a core ensemble, each performance by möbius featured solos to ensembles, baroque to contemporary, and would include large chamber works like Revuelta's "Ocho por Radio", and Schubert's "Octet." The möbius chamber ensemble has been featured in Houston area chamber music series and as a local performing ensemble with the Society for the Performing Arts.

Instrumental in advancing new music for clarinet and flute, Isadore, in conjunction with Leone Buyse and Michael Webster (Rice University), founded the Flute/Clarinet Duos Consortium (FCDC) with the goal of increasing the repertoire for flute, clarinet, and piano by leading composers. Through previous interaction with Libby Larsen, Isadore reconnected with Ms. Larsen for the initial commission of Barn Dances, published by Oxford University Press. Isadore premiered the third FCDC commission by Valerie Coleman at the 2007 National Flute Convention in Albuquerque and remains on the board of this national organization, which continues to bring new works into the Flute/Clarinet genre.

In addition to performing, Isadore has appeared as guest speaker with the newEar contemporary ensemble in Kansas City and as part of a new music session at the International Clarinet Association's ClarinetFest in 2008. Isadore continues to study clarinet with Thomas LeGrand, Associate Principal Clarinet with the Houston Symphony.

I am often asked, since I am a conductor, why I still perform on clarinet as many conductors no longer perform instrumentally. The truth is, I believe both disciplines directly affect each other and make the individual one better. The aural skills and score study developed from conducting allow me to hear my orchestral part in greater context. On the flipside, performing in orchestras for a variety of conductors provides a constant "masterclass" of ideas and techniques which enable me to improve and refine my conducting craft.

Another important element of my musical philosophy is the inclusion of contemporary music in my programs. Whether it is with chamber music recitals or orchestral programs, contemporary music often plays an important part in the construction of the program. One past program included a programmatic work of Mendelssohn and Daugherty. The möbius chamber ensemble gained a reputation of performing diverse repertoire and instrumentation. A listener would come to the concert and hear unaccompanied Bach as well as unaccompanied Messiaen on the same program.

Although I am not a composer, I believe that music is a living art form and needs to be constantly explored in order to grow. I feel the orchestra also reaps benefits from performance of contemporary music in that the interpretation and technical skills needed from start to performance are often more demanding than works which are often repeatedly performed. The result is that the orchestra can view the standard repertoire from a new frame of reference after a recent performance or collaboration with a composer.

Regardless of the performance genre, I always believe that the driving force behind all performances should be the music and I strive to convey this to the performers and the audience through my actions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, engagements, or general discussion.

— Michael Isadore

Video

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Flute/Clarinet Duos Consortium: "Advancing Contemporary Music for Flute and Clarinet by Leading Composers"

Founded in 2000 through the partnership of Michael Isadore, Leone Buyse (Professor of Flute at Rice University) and Michael Webster (Professor of Clarinet at Rice University), the Flute/Clarinet Duos Consortium (FCDC) was established to commission new works for flute, clarinet and piano. Feeling that there was a lack of original music for this instrumentation, as well as having a spouse that plays flute, Isadore contacted composer Libby Larsen for the first commission. Currently in the procedure for a fourth commission, all completed commissions have been funded by generous grants from the Brannen-Cooper fund, as well as contributions by individual flute/clarinet duos, chamber ensembles and universities from across the country. If you would be interested in contributing to a commission or finding out more about FCDC, please use the contact form to forward your information to Michael Isadore and the current FCDC President.

FCDC is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Completed Projects

Libby Larsen: Barn Dances (2001)
Premiered by Richard and Helen Ann Shanley, NFA Convention, Dallas 2001

Derek Bermell: Twin Trio (2005)
Premiered by Jill Felber and Paul Bambach, NFA Convention, San Diego 2005.

Valerie Coleman: Portraits of Langston (2007)
Premiered by Michael and Jennifer Isadore, NFA Convention, Albuquerque 2007

Mr. Isadore maintains a small, selective private studio. His students have been very successful in the TMEA All-State process and have won many local concerto competitions. The majority of his students pursue degrees in music and have been accepted to many high profile institutions like The Cleveland Institute of Music, Peabody, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and Baylor.

Contact Mr. Isadore to inquire about current openings in the studio.

Conductor

Houston Civic Symphony: Associate Conductor
Houston Youth Symphony: Sinfonia Conductor

Clarinetist

Victoria Symphony
Symphony of Southeast Texas (clarinet and bass clarinet)
Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society
Freelance Artist

Bio

As a conductor, Michael Isadore brings energetic, authentic, and musically moving performances of music from yesterday and today to the concert hall. Isadore currently serves as Associate Conductor with the Houston Civic Symphony and Sinfonia conductor of the Houston Youth Symphony. Isadore has also appeared as a frequent guest conductor with the Houston Sinfonietta and the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. Isadore's schedule also includes a myriad of other projects such as Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado" and Handel's "Messiah," along with numerous grand choral and chamber music performances throughout the Houston area.

A champion of contemporary music, Isadore has collaborated with composers, conducted premieres and exposed orchestras and audiences to the works of Michael Torke, Michael Daugherty, Libby Larsen, Ingrid Stolzel, David Heuser and John Mackey. Recently, Isadore brought local Rice University composer, Pierre Jalbert into a rehearsal to discuss and work with the orchestra on his work Autumn Rhapsody, allowing the ensemble to focus their performance on the composer's motivation and inspiration of the composition. Feeling that contemporary music should not be relegated to professionals, Isadore is known to introduce contemporary composers and literature to young ensembles whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Since work with young musicians has played an important part of his career, Isadore has developed a detailed rehearsal strategy and creative ways to spark imagination in order to communicate the most advanced musical concepts, which proves applicable to any level of musician. Each year, he is invited to work with a variety of middle and high school students via a variety of clinics and conducting workshops. In 2010, Isadore received an award granted by the Houston Symphony for his commitment to Education and Artistic Excellence.

Drawing on his experience as an orchestral clarinetist, Isadore combines the disciplines of player and conductor to draw out the talents and musical ideas of the orchestra, and therefore, fosters meaningful relationships with both the performing musicians and the audience.

I am often asked, since I am a conductor, why I still perform on clarinet as many conductors no longer perform instrumentally. The truth is, I believe both disciplines directly affect each other and make the individual one better. The aural skills and score study developed from conducting allow me to hear my orchestral part in greater context. On the flipside, performing in orchestras for a variety of conductors provides a constant "masterclass" of ideas and techniques which enable me to improve and refine my conducting craft.

Another important element of my musical philosophy is the inclusion of contemporary music in my programs. Whether it is with chamber music recitals or orchestral programs, contemporary music often plays an important part in the construction of the program. One past program included a programmatic work of Mendelssohn and Daugherty. The möbius chamber ensemble gained a reputation of performing diverse repertoire and instrumentation. A listener would come to the concert and hear unaccompanied Bach as well as unaccompanied Messiaen on the same program.

Although I am not a composer, I believe that music is a living art form and needs to be constantly explored in order to grow. I feel the orchestra also reaps benefits from performance of contemporary music in that the interpretation and technical skills needed from start to performance are often more demanding than works which are often repeatedly performed. The result is that the orchestra can view the standard repertoire from a new frame of reference after a recent performance or collaboration with a composer.

Regardless of the performance genre, I always believe that the driving force behind all performances should be the music and I strive to convey this to the performers and the audience through my actions. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, engagements, or general discussion.

— Michael Isadore

Video

Photos

Conductor

Houston Civic Symphony: Associate Conductor
Houston Youth Symphony: Sinfonia Conductor

Clarinetist

Victoria Symphony
Symphony of Southeast Texas (clarinet and bass clarinet)
Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society
Freelance Artist