World-renowned clarinetist to instruct students at Granite Hills High School

It’s not every day that a world-renowned musician, who graced the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York City, can interact with students in the High Desert.

The Granite Recording & Entertainment Arts Training Academy (GREAT) at Granite Hills High School in Apple Valley will host clarinetist Ricardo Morales at the school on Thursday and Friday. GREAT is an AME/CTE Model Technical Demonstration site for the California Department of Education.

Morales is one of the most sought-after clarinetists in the world. In the last year, he's performed at Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Philharmonie de Paris and the Art Tower Mito in Japan.

At GHHS, Morales will work with elementary and high school students, as he instructs masterclasses and coaching sessions. His visit will culminate with a solo concert at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at GHHS, which will also feature the West Coast Clarinet Congress.

"We are honored to host such a renowned artist and educator like Ricardo Morales,” said GREAT Academy Director Javier Alcantara-Rojas. “His visit will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students to learn from and be inspired by a true master of his craft."

Morales joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as principal clarinet in 2003 and made his solo debut with the Orchestra in 2004.

He previously served as principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. During his tenure with that ensemble, he soloed at Carnegie Hall and on two European tours.

He has also been a featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, the Seoul Philharmonic, the Columbus Symphony, the Memphis Symphony, and the Flemish Radio Symphony.

Morales has given clarinet master classes for many years and currently serves on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Temple University, and the Curtis Institute of Music.

He is also a visiting professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Morales released a debut recording, French Portraits, and his recordings with the Pacifica Quartet were nominated for a Latin Grammy Award.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Morales began his studies at the Escuela Libre de Musica along with his five siblings.

In a 2019 interview with the International Clarinet Association, Morales gave insight into his upbringing.

“My mother was an occupational therapist and my father played guitar by ear,” Morales said. “He never had any musical training but had great natural talent, devotion and love of music.”

Morales said he was in “the second generation” and it could be said that he came from a family of musicians in the sense that his siblings are professional musicians — two composers, a conductor and a cellist.

Morales’ visit is made possible through the financial support of the Apple Valley Unified School District. GREAT offers classes in drama, choir, guitar, piano, strings, band,  Art, broadcasting/digital media, dance and technical theater.

For more information about the event, please visit the school's website at ourgreatacademy.com.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: World-renowned clarinetist to instruct students in Apple Valley