John Bruce Yeh

John Bruce Yeh (born 1957) is an American clarinetist. He has been the assistant principal clarinetist and E-flat clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1977. Yeh is the founder and director of the chamber ensemble, Chicago Pro Musica, whose first recording, Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat, won the 1985 Grammy Award for the Best New Classical Artist.

John Bruce Yeh
Born1957 (age 65–66)
Washington DC
OccupationClarinetist
Spouse(s)Jody Yeh, Teresa Reilly
Children3
RelativesMolly Yeh (daughter)
John Bruce Yeh
Traditional Chinese葉強
Simplified Chinese叶强

Early life

Yeh was born in Washington DC, although he grew up in Los Angeles, California. Yeh's parents were originally from China. Yeh's father was a scientist and a singer. Yeh's mother was a scientist and a pianist.[1]

Education

Yeh initially studied as a pre-med student at UCLA and also played in local chamber music ensembles and youth symphonies. After two years at UCLA, Yeh transferred to the Juilliard School in New York City.

Career

In 1977, at age 19, Yeh was hired by Georg Solti as a clarinetist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He started as solo bass clarinetist and two years later was appointed assistant principal and E-flat clarinetist. [2][3][4]

While in New York Yeh became a founding member of the New York New Music Ensemble and retained an interest in contemporary music throughout his career.[4] In 1979 he founded the chamber ensemble, Chicago Pro Musica and remains its director. The ensemble's first recording, Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat, won the 1985 Grammy Award for the Best New Classical Artist.[5][6] He has also collaborated with composer and electronic musician Howard Sandroff, performing and recording Pierre Boulez's 1985 work for clarinet and electronics, Dialogue de l'ombre double.[7] Yeh cofounded INVENTIONS, a visual-musical quartet.[8]

Personal life

Yeh's first wife was Jody Yeh, a social worker, who is of Jewish descent; they have two daughters, Molly and Jenna. Yeh's second wife is Teresa Reilly, a clarinetist, and together, they have a daughter, Mia.[9] Yeh, his wife Reilly, and his daughter Molly Yeh, a percussionist, perform together on the album Synergy released by Naxos Records in the Naxos Wind Band Classics series.[10][1] [11]

Recordings

Yeh's recordings include:

  • Stravinsky: L'Histoire du soldat (also includes works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Walton, Hasenohrl, and Nielsen) – Chicago Pro Musica: George Vosburgh (cornet, trumpet); Daniel Gingrich (horn); Jay Friedman (trombone); Richard Graef (flute); John Bruce Yeh (clarinet); Willard Elliot, (bassoon); Albert Igolnikov (violin); Donald Moline (cello); Joseph Guasgafeste (bass); Easley Blackwood (piano); Donald Koss (percussion). Label: Reference Recordings[12]
  • Hindemith: Clarinet Chamber Music – John Bruce Yeh (clarinet), Easley Blackwood (piano), Amelia Piano Trio. Label: Cedille Records[13]
  • Boulez: Dialogues With My Shadow (also includes works by Sandroff, Donald Martino, and Rami Levin) – John Bruce Yeh (clarinet), Howard Sandroff (computer). Label: Koch International Classics[14]
  • Synergy (works by Daugherty, Burritt, Gillingham, David, and McAllister) – John Bruce Yeh (clarinet), Teresa Reilly (clarinet), Molly Yeh (percussionist), Columbus State University Wind Ensemble. Label: Naxos Records[10]

Awards
  • Frank Sinatra Musical Performance Award.[15]
  • 1986 Grammy Award for Best New Classical Artist [2]

References
  1. Yeh, Molly (February 2012). "Q&A With John Bruce Yeh". juilliard.edu. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  2. "John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinetist". cso.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  3. Delacoma, Wynne (10 October 1993). "A CSO Clarinetist Gets A Balanced Musical Diet". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 9 February 2017 (subscription required).
  4. Lebovitz, Carl (29 September 1988). Chicago Symphony's John Bruce Yeh to Perform". Mattoon Journal Gazette, p. 19. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  5. Grammy.com. Past Winners: 1985. Retrieved 9 February 2017
  6. Delacoma, Wynne (10 October 1993). "How Honor Translates Into Sales for Classical Artists". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 9 February 2017 (subscription required).
  7. Bernheimer, Martin (2 June 1992). "Boulez Orgy Ends Happily". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  8. "John Bruce Yeh". cedillerecords.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  9. Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Profile: John Bruce Yeh. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  10. Grames, Ronald E. (May 2010). "Review: Synergy". Fanfare. Retrieved 9 February 2017 (subscription required).
  11. Sussman, Adeena (October 2018). "Molly Yeh Is Home on the Range in Minnesota". hadassahmagazine.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  12. Von Rhein, John (9 May 1986). "Recording review: Stravinsky: L'Histoire du soldat". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  13. Anderson, Rick (June 2004). "Recording review: Hindemith: Clarinet Chamber Music". Notes. Retrieved 9 February 2017 (subscription required).
  14. Von Rhein, John (11 October 1998). "Recording review: Dialogues With My Shadow". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  15. "Introducing Artist VIP - John Bruce Yeh ." wka-clarinet.org. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
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