American clarinetist Garrick Zoeter’s passionate and exciting way with the clarinet has been acknowledged around the world. The Clarinet recently described his playing as, “remarkable, his tone is beautiful and he shows complete mastery of all the technical demands and effects that are required of this piece, his artistry and virtuosity are compelling. This is one of the finest clarinet performances I have reviewed.” The Washington Post recently described a performance of his with Antares as, “an utterly commanding performance, technically superb and radiant with otherworldly majesty all played with exceptional insight.”

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Zoeter’s first serious clarinet studies were with Kenneth Lee and National Symphony Orchestra clarinetist William Wright. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School as a student of Charles Neidich and his master’s degree from Yale University as a student of David Shifrin. He made his solo debut at the age of seventeen in Weber’s Concerto No. 1 with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He has won numerous competitions including first prize in the 2002 Concert Artists Guild Competition and the 1991 International Clarinet Society International Clarinet Competition, as well as the silver medal in the 1997 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition.

Zoeter is the founding member of the acclaimed multi-award-winning clarinet, violin, cello, piano quartet Antares. From 1997 to 2012 with Antares, he annually gave performances around the United States at prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, Aspen Music Festival, Strathmore, Ensemble Music Society of Indianapolis, Carnegie Hall, Market Square Concerts, The Library of Congress, The Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art, and Cincinnati Chamber Music Society. His work with Antares resulted in the commissioning and premiering of more than twenty new quartets from several of North America’s top young composers including Mason Bates, John Mackey, James Matheson, Dan Visconti and Carter Pann. Zoeter is also a frequent performer with such diverse groups as Trio Solisti, the Audubon String Quartet, the Ensemble for the Romantic Century, the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the University of Buffalo’s Slee Sinfinietta, The Post Classical Ensemble, the Monadnock Music Festival, and the New Orchestra of Washington. Recent performances have included Donald Martino’s Triple Concerto in Buffalo, New York, and a concert tour of Spain performing Enno Tamburg’s Concerto Grosso. In the spring of 2016 he performed the world premiere of Andrew Reinfleisch’s Clarinet Concerto with the Shenandoah Conservatory Wind Ensemble.

Zoeter also performs extensively with his wife, soprano Mariana Mihai-Zoeter, in concerts featuring a wide repertoire for soprano, piano and clarinet. They regularly perform throughout the world in such unique venues as the Opera Houses of Manaus and Belem in Brasil. Recent performances include a concert at the Teatrul Maria Filloti in Braila, Romania, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the 25th Festival of Chamber Music in Belem, Brasil.

A committed teacher as well as performer, Zoeter serves as the Anna Lee Van Buren Chair in Clarinet, Coordinator of Winds and Percussion and Associate Professor of Clarinet at Shenandoah Conservatory. His students include numerous competition winners and can be found performing throughout the world. While at Shenandoah he has been featured in concerto performances with the Wind Ensemble in Michael Daugherty’s "Brooklyn Bridge" and Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations, and with the Symphony Orchestra in Debussy’s "Premiere Rhapsody," Strauss’ Duet Concertino, the Copland Concerto, and the Clarinet Concerto by William Bolcom. He also performs frequently with the faculty Van Buren Wind Quintet. He formally served on the clarinet and chamber music faculty of Wesleyan University (2002 to 2007) and from 1997 to 2003 was the clarinet professor at the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho during the month of July in the city of Fortaleza, Brasil. Zoeter has recorded for the CRI, Newport Classics, Bridge, Innova, Naxos, MSR Classics, and New Focus Recordings CD labels.

Shenandoah Conservatory is committed to fostering a safe environment for our students and faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are equally committed to providing exceptional opportunities for our students aligned with preparation for 21st century careers in the arts. This commitment begins with your audition! As the arts industry has responded to our current reality by modifying rehearsal and audition practices, Shenandoah Conservatory has also adopted the most recent industry standards, while maintaining a commitment to innovation and collaboration. Visit the Ensemble & Production Auditions webpage for the most up-to-date information about auditioning for our music, theatre and dance ensembles and productions.

Ensemble & Production Auditions

SHENANDOAH CONSERVATORY INVITES provides instrumental high school students multiple opportunities each year to make music with Shenandoah faculty, students and ensembles. Musicians playing string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will find events enabling intensive study with Shenandoah’s world-class faculty and the opportunity to make music alongside current conservatory students. Each of these events take place on Shenandoah’s beautiful Winchester campus.

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