Han-McGee Duo to Perform Jan. 23 at UW

The University of Wyoming Department of Music will present a free, public recital featuring faculty member Jiwon Han, piano, and Blake McGee, clarinet, Friday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall.

The evening’s program showcases a diverse selection of 20th and 21st century repertoire, beginning with Philippe Gaubert’s evocative “Fantaisie”; Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s lyrical “Sonata,” a four-movement work ranging from a gentle “Lullaby” to a spirited “Rondo alla Napolitana”; Bohuslav Martinů’s rhythmic “Sonatina”; and concluding with Aaron Copland’s definitive “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano.”

A collaborative pianist, Han first gained international attention as a prize-winner at the Isang Yun International Competition, where jurors praised him as “a pianist with a clearly defined artistic voice.” Since his early debut as a soloist with the Korean Philharmonic Orchestra at 8 years old, Han has appeared at major concert venues throughout Korea and internationally across Asia, Europe and the United States. He is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions and has released two solo albums, “Debut” and “Romanticism,” along with several collaborative recordings of chamber and ensemble repertoire. 

McGee is professor of clarinet and music history at UW and currently serves as principal clarinet with the Wyoming Symphony. He performs as a recitalist and chamber musician around the country, with recent performances in Boston, Portland, San Francisco, Thailand, China, Montenegro and Ireland. He enjoys a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary compositions, free improvisation and world/folk genres.