Aaron Clay, Double Bass
Aaron Clay distinguishes himself regularly as a uniquely versatile double bassist. He commands great respect as a performer in both the classical and jazz worlds of bass playing, but it was The Washington Post that observed, “What sets [Clay] apart is elegant bowing . . . . His melodic lines have a cello-like glow and flexibility . . . .”
A native of Fairmont, West Virginia, Mr. Clay began his musical training at the age of 10 when he taught himself to play jazz on the electric bass. He later pursued classical training on the upright double bass prior to attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he studied with Richard Manspeaker. After graduating in 1989, he was selected to join the United States Navy Band in Washington, DC. Upon completing one enlistment with the Navy, Mr. Clay auditioned for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, where he has been a member since 1993.
Mr. Clay makes regular appearances at The White House performing in virtually every type of musical ensemble that is tasked, to include the Marine Orchestra, string ensembles, and jazz/pop combos. He also travels frequently with the Marine Band throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to writing works for violin and double bass duo, Mr. Clay is developing a reputation as a composer of works for larger ensembles. An invitation by the director of the Marine Band to write a work for wind ensemble led to Mr. Clay’s composition “e-volution,” which was premiered by the Marine Band in 2002. His next work, also premiered by the Marine Band was entitled “Serial Number.”
Mr. Clay is a founding member of the highly acclaimed string duo, Bridging the Gap®, in which he performs with violinist Peter Wilson. Hailed by The Washington Post for “superior arrangements and uncommon musicianship,” the unique duo performs works covering a wide range of musical styles and released their first CD in November 2003. They have become frequent guests of the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and have appeared on the Jazz Series of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. In 2004, Mr. Clay and Mr. Wilson were honored by their home state when each received the Music Award by the Arts and Humanities Commission of Fairmont, West Virginia in recognition of their outstanding leadership and devotion to the enhancement of the arts.
Mr. Clay serves as Principal Bassist of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and has performed in such jazz and pop groups as The Kenny Rittenhouse Quartet, The Peter Fraize Quartet, and First Light. Mr. Clay is always in great demand as a freelance musician and has appeared with such legendary performers as Aretha Franklin and Joe Williams. |
Jon Kalbfleisch, Conductor
Jon Kalbfleisch enjoys a multi-faceted musical life as a conductor, pianist, award-winning music director, freelance musician and organist. Having conducted ballet, opera, symphonic music, choral works, contemporary music and Broadway musicals, he has a wide-ranging interest in musical styles. In Oklahoma, after five years as its music director and conductor, he has guided the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra to newfound heights both in terms of artistic success and community outreach. Symphony magazine recently highlighted the LPO’s Art Inspired by Music project; local students inspired by the music of Beethoven created some 4,000 original artworks. Previously, Jon was guest conductor for the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Pops at the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, and he conducted the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Orchestra at Quartz Mountain. Maestro Kalbfleisch also conducted the Louise D. McMahon International Piano Competition held at Cameron University, and the Bradetich International Double Bass Competition at the University of North Texas. Jon received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Cameron University, and a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. While in Dallas as a student of Anshel Brusilow, Jon was Assistant Conductor of the SMU Symphony and Music Director of the Perspective Chamber Ensemble, pianist for the Dallas Ballet, and accompanist for the Dallas Opera. Jon was also a finalist in a number of conducting competitions. Since relocating to the Washington DC area, Jon has been a twenty one-time nominee and five-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical Direction. As resident music director of the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre, he has conducted over 1000 performances of some thirty musicals including Sweeney Todd, Follies, A Little Night Music and 110 in the Shade. Nationally, Kalbfleisch was Associate Conductor for the touring company of Les Miserables, which included a stop on Broadway. He was Music Director for Putting it Together at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. On television, Jon has appeared conducting for Alan Jackson on Good Morning America. In Washington, Mr. Kalbfleisch was recently music director for the Library of Congress 50th Anniversary Concert of West Side Story, as well as music director and co-conductor for Gilbert Mead: A Celebration at the Kennedy Center. He can be heard on the 2009 Grammy-nominated recording of Bernstein’s Mass playing piano with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He has also played and/ or conducted at Wolf Trap (with the National Symphony Orchestra), Carnegie Hall (with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) The National Theatre, The Warner Theatre, The White House, The Smithsonian Institute, The National Building Museum, and The US Supreme Court. As an accompanist, Jon has had the great pleasure of playing with artists such as David Kim, Frederica von Stade and Lynn Harrell. |
