The University of Arkansas Clarinet Studio, consisting of 19 undergraduate and graduate clarinetists, took a two-day tour on Jan. 22-23 as a part of the Music75 Initiative in the Department of Music.

With the goal to visit all 75 Arkansas counties by 2020, music faculty and students have performed and given lectures across the state. With the Clarinet Studio's two-day tour, the project hit 43 counties with many more to come this semester. Special thanks to the UA Women's Giving Circle for their continued support for this project.

On the first day of the tour the Clarinet Ensemble performed at the Arkansas Clarinet Day 2019 at University of Arkansas Fort-Smith in Sebastian County. Rosabelle Tongxiao Zhou, a student from China, and Samantha Ellis from Canton, Texas, participated in master classes at the conference.

On Day 2, the Clarinet Ensemble performed for Charleston Public Schools in Charleston, Franklin County. Nophachai Cholthitchanta, professor of clarinet, and music education majors in the group gave workshops for high school and middle school band programs. The music for this tour included arrangements of Verdi's Prelude from La Traviata, Grainger's Molly on the Shore, Ciesla's Itamar Freilach from Klezmer Suite, and an original piece for clarinet choir, Nelhybel's Chorale and Danza. To drive home the Razorback spirit, the ensemble closed their performance with the UA Fight Song.

The University of Arkansas Department of Music launched "Music75" in the summer of 2017. This ambitious project will bring UAMusic faculty and students to all 75 counties in Arkansas to make music. The goal is to complete the project by 2020.

"Music75 reflects our department's desire to further establish the arts as one of the pillars of the university and the state," said Alan Gosman, associate chair of music. "There is incredible enthusiasm to channel our energy for community outreach in this way and connect with people throughout Arkansas."

The department has planned ensemble tours, in-service workshops for educators, lectures, and guest conductor concerts. The department chair has also graciously awarded funds to send exceptional students back to their home counties to give performances and to serve as ambassadors "back home." As the Music Department continues to plan Music75, do not hesitate to contact them if you want to partner in the project.