Richie Hawley

clarinet

There are those who define their instrument and those who are defined by their instrument. Richie Hawley is among the distinguished former group. He is a sought-after recitalist and chamber musician who regularly appears on stages around the world. During his 17 years as principal clarinet of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, he made an indelible mark and appeared on dozens of albums with the orchestra. 

Mr. Hawley is dedicated to inspiring future generations. Since 2011, he’s been Professor of Clarinet at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. During the summers he is in residence at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, where students and audiences are drawn to his impeccable musicianship and charming, seemingly effortless teaching style.

Mr. Hawley has garnered awards as a performer and an educator, including the Coleman-Barstow prize at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in 1988 with Trio con Brio, the Gold Medal as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, the Léni Fé Bland Foundation Career Grant, and the 2009 Glover Award for outstanding teaching at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. 

A native Angeleno, Mr. Hawley began studying clarinet with Yehuda Gilad at the Colburn School of Performing Arts at age nine. He made his orchestral solo debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 13 and the New York Philharmonic at 14, and appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra while a student of Donald Montanaro at the Curtis Institute of Music. For more information, see www.richiehawley.com, www.hanickhawleyduo.com.

Sponsor: Sallie Bell