At age eleven, Jason Russo began studying clarinet through the Johnston Public Schools system, in Rhode Island, and has dedicated his life to music since then. Throughout his grammar and secondary education, Jason has participated in ensembles such as the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Federico Cortese. Upon graduating from Johnston Senior High School, Jason enrolled at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee to study clarinet with Michael Norsworthy, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in May, 2018. During his time at the conservatory, Jason has received special recognition, including winning The Boston Conservatory chamber music honors competition in the fall of 2015 and 2016, and being a finalist in the annual concerto competition during his freshman year. Additionally, Jason was the runner up in Boston’s prestigious Harold Wright Merit Award clarinet competition as a sophomore. Most recently, Jason was selected as a finalist for the 2019 Pershing’s Own, U.S Army Band National Collegiate Concerto Competition. Jason is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at The University of Houston, Moores School of Music, under the tutelage of Mark Nuccio.
As an orchestral clarinetist, Jason has performed with The Boston Conservatory Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Boston Civic Symphony, and Symphony Nova. He has also been accepted into prestigious summer programs such as the Brevard Music Center, Miami Music Festival, and Texas Music Festival, and has been selected as an alternate for the Music Academy of the West, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Atlantic Music Festival fellowship. Passionate about contemporary music, he constantly premieres solo and chamber works, and loves performing the repertoire of Elliott Carter, Franco Donatoni, and Joan Tower, among many others. Jason is also an advocate for using music as an outlet for creativity, and for the well-being of people in society, and will often be found volunteering in his local communities.
Introduction, Theme and Variations, by Gioachino Rossini,
10 minutes and 36 seconds
(repeats ommitted)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTZzvIfOw0Q
