Clarinetfest 2026: Why you can't miss this year

What is ClarinetFest, and is it actually worth going to? In this episode, Jay sits down with ICA President Cathy Wood, ICA Executive Director Jessica Harrie, and Enthusiast Committee co-chair Josh Goo to answer exactly that. ClarinetFest 2026 takes place July 7-11 at the Songdo Convencia in Incheon, South Korea, and this year features something especially exciting for adult enthusiasts and returning players: the Prelude to ClarinetFest Enthusiast Workshop. Before the main festival begins, a full day of workshops, icebreakers, ensemble playing, and masterclasses is designed specifically for non-professional players who want to get the most out of the week ahead. Jessica Harrie, who now lives in Incheon, walks listeners through what it's actually like to travel there: the 25-minute ride from the airport, the English-friendly signage and transit, the Central Park lakefront, and the restaurants of Triple Street. Spoiler: it is a lot more accessible than you might think. The group also previews some of the performing artists on the program, including Kokoya (the Japanese trio playing Brazilian choro music), the Magic Clarinet Quartet, the Seoul Clarinet Ensemble, Jerry Chai of Seoul National University, and the Bass Clarinet Choir of Canada. The opening gala concert is being held at the Art Center Incheon, one of the most stunning concert halls in the region. Cathy, Jessica, and Josh each share their most memorable ClarinetFest moments, from Julian Bliss's American debut at age 11, to fireworks on a Belgian beach with a clarinet choir, to walking past Julian Bliss in a hallway in Denver and doing a double take. Jay also teases an upcoming episode with jazz clarinetist Virginia McDonald, and confesses to spending $104 on two reeds from France. No regrets. To register: Prelude event: https://clarinet.org/prelude-to-clarinetfest-2026/ ClarinetFest 2026: https://clarinet.org/clarinetfest-2026/  Theme music by James Danderfer: https://www.jamesdanderfer.com/ Clarinet Ninja Dojo: https://www.clarinetninja.com/dojo-landing Quickstart Clarinet: https://www.quickstartclarinet.com/