Straw Hats, Cane Reeds, and Texas Heat: It's ClarinetFest in Cowtown!!🤠
2025 marks my fifth consecutive ClarinetFest, the annual flagship event of the International Clarinet Association that draws upwards of 3000 clarinetists from all over the world.
Like HiveFest, every year's gathering of like-minded musicians is held in a different city.
ClarinetFest 2022 was held in Reno, Nevada. I had to take a propeller plane to reach that hot gambling city. It was my first "real deal" speaking engagement.
ClarinetFest 2023 was held in Denver, Colorado. Instead of speaking, I performed in the Festival Clarinet Choir, which is an orchestra of all voices of clarinets. That was quite the leveling up for me, as it was the first time to play in a live ensemble for the first time since 2020.
ClarinetFest 2024 was held in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of speaking or performing I put money where my mouthpiece is 😬 and funded a scholarship for clarinetist @rochellegracilla one of our Creative Work Hour crew to attend for the first time.
ClarinetFest 2025 was held in "Cowtown", Texas and this go 'round I did all the thangs! I spoke, performed not one but two concerts with completely different ensembles, and funded a scholarship. As I'm writing this post it occurs to me that if I were hearing a friend tell me this set of accomplishments, I'd call it a trifecta!
Where in Tarnation Is "Cowtown"?
Cowtown is the moniker for Fort Worth, Texas, the smaller city to neighbouring Dallas which is better known for the oil industry. Fort Worth earned the nickname because of its historic role in the cattle industry, specifically as a major stop on the Chisholm Trail in the late 19th century. The Fort Worth Stockyards are known the world over as a major market where cattle were bought, sold, and shipped.
What is "Hell's Half Acre"?
Not only is Cowtown a famous moniker, but the part of Cowtown where the Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the Fort Worth Convention reside are in the part of town called, "Hell's Half Acre." The area was legendary for shoot 'em ups, saloons, and it's own "Gunsmoke- style red light district.
Hive's Creative Work Hour Brings Musicians to the International Stage
It's possible that you may have already heard of Creative Work Hour, the Hive Community (if not, read on and I'll hook you up). One of the important facets of CWH is the add-on daily music practice sessions called Practice Not Perfect (PNP). It's a daily place to come and practice where you can see others practice, but we do so with mics muted. The idea is simple but effective. A plethoral of studies show that mirroring in creative work and music practice supercharges the result of your efforts.
A regular to CWH & PNP is @rochellegracilla. Rochelle and I were both presenters at the 2025 ClarinetFest. On 10 July, Rochelle spoke on the importance of musicians cross-training for health and longevity, similar to the practice by elite athletes.
On Friday, 11 July, I taught the musicians about how to maximise their inspiration and ease while minimising anxiety and body tension through the use of self-hypnosis. Bringing this modality to practice and rehearsals makes it easier for performers to use it for playing in front of live audiences.
10,000 Clarinets Can't Be Wrong
To give you a sense of what the conference is like, I'll say that ClarinetFest takes on the dust and grit of a cattle drive. There are 2900+ clarinetists teaching, rehearsing, performing, networking and visiting the exhibition hall, were there are hundreds and hundreds of clarinets to try, from the tiny Eb clarinet to the mighty Contrabass. Of all the makers represented in the hall, I have to give the creativity award to the premiere clarinet makers from France, Henri Selmer Paris for their take on the Texas clarinet drive.
Even the 140-year old fancy-pants "licorice-stick" maker Henri Selmer of Paris is puttin' on the dawg for ClarinetFest.
My aim in sharing this post with y'all is to give you a sense of what this big as Texas ClarinetFest. My next post will cover more of the musical aspects of the experience.
But for now, I want to play you out with a country western cover band I tripped across when I crashed the final party of another convention at the Omni Hotel -Fort Worth. I wish I knew the name of the players, but I didn't ask as I was an interloper. I hope you feel a kick of energy from this unknown band playing Gretchen Wilson's "Red Neck Woman."
https://youtu.be/DB0Nb-CiwfM?si=iWSCbDjfA6HvNS9L
Curious About Practice Not Perfect? Let's Jam Quietly 🤫
Are you a musician and would enjoy support with your own practice?
We hold sessions everyday, but no one hears you practice, as we are on mute 🔇 when we work.
Reach out to me on Discord at alessandrawhite to receive your invite or a tour.
Learn more at https://creativeworkhour.com
Thank you for that piece on Cow Town, it was quite moooving! 🐄
Do cows groan? 🤔
sending you Ecency curation votes!
Thank you SO MUCH @melissa010100 for reading!
Your support is do lovely. 🥰
ClarinetFest sounds like quite a party. I would think @daniellemurray would enjoy it. I am looking at going to a big drum show in Liverpool this year.
Do you have any videos of the clarinets? I didn't see any in the country band.
!LUV
Aww…thank you for your lovely comment.
Yes, I begin work today for the clarinet-focused post on ClarinetFest!!
Also, I meant to tell you yesterday, I pimped your post on #PYPT, the one about your gig last weekend with @daniellemurray and Bob. 🥰
How fun to be in Fort Worth! I lived in the Dallas area (the East side of Dallas) for over 35 years. All four of our children were born there. Now there's only my oldest who is still there. Even my husband and I moved. We're now in South Texas.
I loved living in that area. So much to see and do all in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area.
Hi @greensndpinks! So lovely 🥰 to meet you here.
Small world 🌍 right? @bitterirony & I grew up in the smallest county in Texas, east of Dallas. We’ve know each other since we were kids.
South Texas sounds hot this time of year!!
I’m following you on Hive now. 😻
So in Rockwall county?
We live in Galveston county on the Gulf coast, so we have the breeze from there. Many times we are 15 degrees less than Houston, which is not too far north of us, because they are farther inland. Dallas is usually hotter than us in the summer, too. But we make up for it in humidity. I'd rather have the hotter and drier than the hot and humid. I prefer the weather in Dallas in the summer.
We've only been down here three years.
That's right, @greenandpinks!
I'm a sixth generation Texan. That said, I sold our home in 2002, sold most of the other stuff we had, and headed to Europe to study architecture.
I moved back to Texas a couple of times over the years, but I've always returned to the UK.
I've never ever missed the Texas weather! 🥵 🌪️
LOL, I grew up in Wisconsin, moved to Illinois, then Ohio, and finally Texas. I LOVE the weather! Well, I did in Dallas (except the few times we had the ice storms and freezing weather). Not so much here on the coast since my sinuses don't like the humidity. I'll take the hot summers over the cold winters anytime!
I have never been to Texas, but it sounds like you had an amazing time. I used to dream of visiting somewhere with great steaks and an “if you can finish it, it’s free” kind of deal, always imagining there would be awesome places like that in Texas for some reason LOL. Of course, now I’d lose every time. After my bariatric surgery, I struggle to finish even a filet mignon, but I’d certainly give it my best shot haha. I’m glad you and @rochellegracilla (@zenpig) had a wonderful trip.
There are some truly interesting places to visit in Texas. Sadly there is not enough value given is historic preservation, which was a big course of study for me when I was living there. I certified as a Historic House Preservationist during that time. This was one of the interests that led me to selling out and moving to London to study architecture. There is an huge value placed on the story and artifacts of place.
Haha I had no idea you were a clarinetist too! Is there anything you can’t do?
Hive has had a magical way of encouraging photography, activity and mindfulness for me. I had not heard of Practice not Perfect but it kinda sounds like it will encourage me to practice my musical instrument playing more than I currently am, which is not enough. I may have to check that out!
Anyhow, wonderful story and you are truly a renaissance woman!