New principal clarinetist to join the Great Falls Symphony and Chinook Winds in January 2019

The Great Falls Symphony Association is thrilled to introduce its new principal clarinetist and member of the Chinook Winds, Cameron Winrow. Cameron will join the organization and the Great Falls community in January of 2019.

Chris Mothersole has held the position of principal clarinet since the 2015-2016 season. Chris’ last performances in Great Falls will be at the Symphony’s Canzoni d’Amore concert on November 3rd at the Mansfield Theater and with the Chinook Winds at the New Frontiers Chamber Music Series concert on November 11th (at the First Congregational Church UCC) and November 13th (at the University of Providence). Following the New Frontiers concerts Chris will be moving to join his wife, Julia Moss, in Carrollton, Georgia, where she has accepted a videographer position at the University of Georgia.

Auditions for the principal clarinet position were held in mid-September this year. Highly qualified candidates from throughout the country travelled to Great Falls to perform for an audition committee consisting of members of the Chinook Winds, the Cascade Quartet, and the Great Falls Symphony Music Director, Grant Harville. After three audition rounds, the position was ultimately offered to and accepted by Cameron Winrow, a native of San Diego, California.

Cameron began his music studies when he picked up his mother’s old marching band clarinet in the fifth grade. While always identifying as a musician, his varied interests and talents led him to pursue a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with a minor in music from the University of California, Berkeley. Putting his engineering background to use, Cameron worked for an oil refinery for two years before returning to school at the Jacobs School of Music (Indiana University, Bloomington) where he studied with Eli Eban. He completed a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance in the spring of 2018. Cameron has performed with the National Repertory Orchestra, Festival Napa Valley Orchestra, and New World Symphony, as well as toured Central Europe with the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra.

Cameron’s first performance with the Chinook Winds will be on the Airs of Eastern Europe Chamber Music Series concert on January 13th (at the University of Providence) and January 15th (at the Masonic Lodge). His first performance as principal clarinet of the Great Falls Symphony will be on the Passionate Passages program on January 19th at the Mansfield Theater. He looks forward to becoming a part of the Great Falls community. An enthusiastic sports fan, Cameron says, “With the Charger’s move to LA, and my allegiance therefore up for grabs, I will need assistance from expert Montanans in figuring out whether to root for the Broncos or Vikings!”

Information on the Chamber Music Series is available here. Chamber Music Series tickets may be purchased online here.

Information on upcoming Great Falls Symphony concerts is available here. Symphony concert tickets may be purchased through the Mansfield Box Office.