David Ehrke

Principle Clarinet of the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra

United States

Légère Signature and European cut reeds have been my preference since they first began production. Most all of my students at the University of Nevada, Reno play on them with excellent success. Proper mouthpiece selection is a must to get the best performance with Légère reeds. After playing both cane and Légère, my students almost always choose Légère. I personally play Richard Hawkins mouthpieces and also recommend the Vandoren Black Diamond with the European cut or Signature series.

David Ehrke received his musical training at San Francisco State University (Bachelor of Music), The New England Conservatory of Music (Master of Music) and the University of Southern California (Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance), where he was a student of Mitchell Lurie.

Dr. Ehrke is principal clarinet with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and has been a featured soloist with the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the Reno Philharmonic on both clarinet and saxophone. His Reno Saxophone Quartet was a finalist ensemble in the Chamber Music Chicago National Discovery Competition in 1986 which was broadcast nationally on WFMT from the Chicago Public Library. Ehrke performed for 15 years with the Midsummer Mozart Festival Orchestra in San Francisco and has played principal clarinet with many orchestras, including the New Sousa Band conducted by Keith Brion, the California Symphony, the Las Vegas Symphony, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Western Opera Theater and the Nevada Opera Orchestra. Additionally, Dr. Ehrke has worked as either clarinetist or conductor with a wide variety of artists including Dick Van Dyke, Ray Charles, Eddie Daniels, Michael Bolton, Luciano Pavarotti and Douglas Fairbanks Jr to name just a few. He has appeared as both clarinet soloist and conductor on National Public Radio's Monday Night Blockbusters and is a regular performer of chamber music in the Reno area.