About The B-Flatirons Clarinet Quartet

Sebastian began playing clarinet at age 11 and never looked back. He found passion for clarinet performance in Cherry Creek High School's Wind Ensemble, but his true love for clarinet manifested during his private lessons with Dr. Daniel Silver, professor of clarinet at the University of Colorado at Boulder. There he played as principal clarinetist of the Symphonic Band toward the end of his degree, and he put on a full undergraduate clarinet recital in Grusin Music Hall. After three years of directing instrumental music at Thornton High School, Sebastian pursued his Masters of Music Education at Colorado State University where he studied with clarinet professor Dr. Wesley Ferreira, and he served as principal clarinetist of the Wind Symphony. While much of Sebastian's experiences on clarinet are in the contexts of wind band and soloing, he enjoys performing chamber music more. Whether it is duetting with a friend or playing in a clarinet choir, he cannot seem to get enough of it. That said, participating in the B-Flatirons Clarinet Quartet fulfills this desire most effectively, and he is thrilled to be a part of it.

Maddy began learning the clarinet in the Zia Middle School sixth-grade band (Las Cruces, NM). Since then, she has turned her love of the instrument and wind band music into a career in music education. She received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and her Master of Music Degree from Colorado State University. She is currently the Director of Bands at Sunset Middle School in Longmont, CO. As a clarinetist, Maddy has experience performing with large ensembles, in chamber groups, and as a soloist in the U.S. and Europe. Most notably, she has performed as a part of the Interharmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy, and the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria. Currently, she enjoys keeping a busy teaching schedule and continuing her musical performance career with the Longmont Concert Band and the B-Flatirons Clarinet Quartet.

Steve is a retired Mechanical Engineer that had an early interest in playing clarinet that started at age 10, influenced by a sibling. Steve has fond memories of playing during his school years through Sophomore in college. He was very serious at one point in High School, considering it as a profession, but recognized his math skills were better than his clarinet skills. While raising three children, Steve got to re-live his passion for music through them and much to his pleasure, all played clarinet. After a long pause from playing regularly, Ryan (his son) formed the quartet with Steve in mind.

Ryan is a second generation amateur clarinetist and hobbyist. He started learning music on the piano and switched to a clarinet when he was 11. Although he has tried many different instruments over the years from saxophone to oboe to trombone to recorder and melodica, he always returns to the clarinet family. Currently focused on bass clarinet but doubling on the B♭ when needed, Ryan also owns and plays the contra alto clarinet and hopes someday to own a full "clarinet choir" of instruments. Ryan also arranges some of the pieces for The B-Flatirons Clarinet Quartet.