WEST TEXAS SYMPHONY'S CHRIS CHANCE CELEBRATES 16 WITH WEST TEXAS SPOTLIGHT
On Jan. 11, Chris Chance was featured in the Symphony’s West Texas Spotlight concert and played "Premiere Rhapsodie" by Claude Debussy and the third movement of “Clarinet Concerto No. 1” by Carl Maria von Weber. For Principal Clarinetist Chris, music has always been about discovery. From his early days watching a band director demonstrate the seemingly complex instrument to his current role as a cornerstone of the West Texas Symphony, Chris has found joy in the artistry and collaboration of orchestral performance.
“I love the different roles that I get to play as a clarinet,” Chris explained. “I’m kind of a middle voice, so a lot of times I’m used as harmony, blending with other instruments and other sounds. How do I play so that I sound like one of the horns? How do I play so that I fit into the string section? And yet in the next bar, maybe I’m coming out of the texture, playing a big solo.”
Since joining the West Texas Symphony in 2009, Chris has been an integral part of the orchestra’s artistic fabric. Recently celebrated as a featured soloist, he reflects on the unique experience of live orchestral performance: “In live music, there’s more of the risk of playing something in front of people. All of the joys and sorrows that happen with the unexpected happen in live music, which is valuable, and there’s a connection with the audience.”
Beyond his role with the symphony, Chris performs with the West Texas Winds, a chamber group comprised of principal musicians from different sections of the orchestra. The West Texas Winds spring recital will be on March 22.
The West Texas Symphony’s impact extends far beyond its performances. “It enriches the community to have access to works of art, works of literature, works of music,” Chris noted. “Sometimes we play music that’s just been written and is more experimental. Sometimes we surprise people because it's a brand new piece, but it sounds really pretty, and they were expecting something bombastic and harsh.”
The orchestra continues to innovate in its community engagement, recently launching a series of merchandise featuring stylized portraits of its soloists. Looking ahead, Chris will open the Tony Desare “The Piano Show Featuring Rhapsody in Blue” concert with a clarinet solo on March 1. To buy tickets visit wtxs.org.
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