Stanley Drucker

Among the most prominent clarinetists of his era, Stanley Drucker incredibly spent over 60 years as a member of the New York Philharmonic, including 49 as its principal player, performing in more than 10,000 concerts throughout the world as a member of the prestigious institution. He premiered several new works as a soloist with the orchestra, appearing in this manner nearly 200 times during his career. Most of his recording activities were made with the Philharmonic, though he did issue several recordings of chamber music. Drucker was born on February 4, 1929, in Brooklyn. His parents, inspired by the playing of Benny Goodman, bought Stanley a clarinet when he was ten. He took lessons with Leon Russianoff for five years and attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan. At age 15, Drucker began attending Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music but stayed for only a year because he was named the principal clarinetist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He left the Indianapolis position after one year, and the following two years saw successive, single-year stints in the same position with the Adolf Busch Chamber Players and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, respectively. Drucker's rather nomadic life was short-lived, as he returned to New York at age 19, winning an audition with the New York Philharmonic's music director Bruno Walter and assuming the position of assistant principal and E-flat clarinetist. Drucker married fellow clarinetist Naomi Lewis in 1958, and the couple had two children, Leon, the bassist in the band the Stray Cats (as Lee Rocker), and Rosanne, a country singer. Stanley and Naomi often performed and recorded together, including a recording of Poulenc's Sonata for Two Clarinets, with pianist Kazuko Hayami. Drucker's final position change came in 1960 when Philharmonic music director Leonard Bernstein appointed him to the principal clarinet position. In 1968, Drucker took a teaching position at the Juilliard School, remaining there until 1998. During his principal reign with the Philharmonic, he appeared as a soloist 191 times, covering much of the standard concerto repertoire for his instrument as well as premiering new works, such as John Corigliano's Clarinet Concerto of 1977, which was commissioned by the Philharmonic for Drucker. A recording of this work, with Zubin Mehta conducting, earned Drucker a Grammy nomination in 1981. He earned a second Grammy nomination in 1991 for a recording of Copland's Clarinet Concerto with Bernstein leading the Philharmonic. In 1998, Musical America named Drucker its Instrumentalist of the Year as he marked his 50th anniversary with the Philharmonic, which featured Drucker performing the Copland concerto during its season. Along with concerto and orchestra recordings, he also appeared on a number of chamber music releases, partnering with pianist Leonid Hambro and the Elysium String Quartet on several occasions, including 2001's Stanley Drucker Plays Brahms. Retiring at the end of the 2008-2009 season, his 60th in New York, Drucker was made an Honorary Member of the New York Philharmonic, and he was presented with the Guinness World Record for longest career as a clarinetist, clocking in at well over 62 years. Drucker died on December 19, 2022, in Vista, California.
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