VICTOR CHAVEZ | CLARINET
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CLARINET, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE
Dr. Victor Chávez, Jr. is a Mexican-American, fifth-generation musician from El Paso, Texas. He is currently Associate Professor ofClarinet at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and holds tenured orchestral positions as third/bass clarinetist with theKnoxvilleSymphony Orchestra, principal clarinetist of the Johnson CitySymphony Orchestra in Johnson City, TN; the Symphony of theMountains in Kingsport, TN; and the Tri-Cities Opera Company inBinghamton, NY.Vic has been a guest clinician for KMTA/TMTA, various universities across the United States including the San Francisco Conservatory, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, CCM, Vanderbilt University, Ithaca University, and the Eastman School of Music. He has lectured/performed at the International Clarinet Association Festivals in Baton Rouge, LA 2013; Madrid, Spain 2014; Lawrence, Kansas 2015; Orlando, Florida 2016; Ostend, Belgium; Knoxville, TN2019, the College Music Society Conference and North American Saxophone Alliance. In 2015, he worked with Clarinets for Conservation in Moshi, Tanzania, teaching and advocating for greater awareness and preservation of African Blackwood (mpingo) used to make clarinets. His solo performances can be heard on WUOT 91.9FM, Knoxville. In June of 2017, Vic performed his Carnegie Hall debut in Weill Recital Hall with pianist Joong Han Jung as part of the Víjon Duo.
He has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Belton Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains, and Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series. Vic earned various prizes as a performer: twice at the El Paso Artists Guild Concerto Competition; twice at the Entergy Young Texas ArtistsCompetition; Baylor University Concerto Competition; the International Sorantin Concerto; DePaul University Concerto Competition; and the Round Top Festival Concerto Competition. He has attended the Brevard Music Festival, Blossom Music Festival, and Round Top Music Festival and has earned degrees from Baylor University-BME, DePaul University-MM, and The Eastman School of Music-DMA. His primary pedagogues include Larry Combs, Guy Deplus, Jon Manasse, Julie DeRoche, Kenneth Grant, Dr. Richard Shanley, Dan McKelway, Alan Olson, and Vin Richards.
In 2006, Vic was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Lusk Fellowship, allowing him to study in Paris, France under the tutelage of Guy Deplus. While in Paris, Vic conducted his Fulbright research in pedagogy, performance practice, and literature. Vic was awarded the Artistic Directorship for the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest® 2019 at the University of Tennessee with over 1,700 clarinetists and guests in attendance. Additionally, he and his Artistic Leadership Team set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest Clarinet Choir consisting of 367 people. Vic is a Buffet Crampon Artist and plays on Buffet Crampon clarinets.