Dr. Alexander W. Ravitz

Instructor of Clarinet

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Education

• D.M.A., University of North Texas, Clarinet Performance
• M.M., University of South Florida, Clarinet Performance
• B.M., University of Louisville, Clarinet Performance

Research Interests

• Clarinet Pedagogy of Gustave Langenus

Affiliations

• Fort Smith Symphony, principal clarinet

Curriculum Vitae

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Biography

Dr. Alexander W. Ravitz is a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and educator based in Memphis, TN. He is currently Principal Bass Clarinetist of the Fort Smith Symphony (Ft. Smith, AR) and Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet at the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State University. As an active freelance musician Dr. Ravitz has performed with ensembles including The Naples Philharmonic, Opera Tampa, The Orlando Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, St. Pete Opera and served as the Principal Clarinetist of the Venice Symphony (Venice, FL) for a decade.
As a soloist, Dr. Ravitz has been a guest recitalist in Cedar Falls, IA, Madison, WI, Tampa and Jacksonville, FL, and Louisville, KY. As an advocate for new music, Alexander regularly appears in performances ranging from solo clarinet to chamber recitals performing in new-music concerts. Alex has had the pleasure of collaborating with many composers including Vera Ivanova, Tyler Kline, David Liptak, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Baljinder Sekhon II, Michael Fraizer and countless others. Alexander’s most recent commissioning project, live oak by Tyler Kline, was a consortium of over 50 clarinetists and supporters of new music that he led. The piece has now been played at multiple international and national conferences. As an improvisor Dr. Ravitz has collaborated with groups such as The Jamison Williams Trio, The Sean Hamilton Collective, Thomas Milovac's Unit Colossus, and his improv trio, CRUX, whose self-titled CD is available under the Noise Pelican label.

Alexander holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Texas, with a related field in Music Theory. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Louisville, and a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance and Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida.  Dr. Ravitz’s students have been admitted to and have received over $400k in scholarships to Universities such as University of Michigan, Florida State University, University of Florida, Texas Christian University, and Stetson University among many others.

Dr. Ravitz has several projects currently in the works, including a recording of Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg with soloist Dr. Megan Esther Grey for a future release and Brett Copeland’s reimagining of Górecki’s Symphony No. 3: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs for Bass Clarinet, Tuba, and Electronics, as well as other pieces for their duo Sonic Doctors.

Alexander’s primary teachers have been Kimberly Cole Luevano, Phillip O Paglialonga, Calvin Falwell, Dallas Tidwell, and Scott Ellington.
Dr. Ravitz also studied Jazz with the late Dan Miller, and orchestral conducting with William Wiedrich.