Kimberly Cole Luevano, clarinet
With reviews such as “breathtaking…” (The Clarinet), “virtuosic tone and technique”(Tampa Bay Times), “exceptionally sensitive and introspective rendition” (The Clarinet), and “a most skillful artist” (Fanfare Magazine), Kimberly Cole Luevano continually establishes herself as a formidable soloist and chamber musician. Cole Luevano joined the University of North Texas faculty in 2011 and served as a member of the clarinet faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp from 2003 to 2012. She was appointed as Pedagogy Chairperson for the International Clarinet Association in 2012 and has given acclaimed solo and chamber performances, adjudicated, and presented masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and in Asia and South America. She has performed at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest® on numerous occasions, and former students occupy performing and teaching positions throughout the United States and Canada.
Luevano’s world premiere recordings of American works for clarinet and piano, “Bright Angel,” was released in April 2013 on the Fleur de Son label to great acclaim and was included on the long ballot Grammy nomination. Naxos Deutschland wrote “kraftvoll und glänzen durch hervorragende Motivarbeit” (vibrant, and shine through superb motivic work) while Sequenza 21 wrote, “their performances are exquisite as is their ensemble chemistry…” Luevano is featured in several other chamber music releases on both the Albany and Centaur labels, among others. A versatile and active freelance musician, Dr. Cole Luevano has performed as a member of the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra, as principal clarinetist of the Ann Arbor, Lansing, Toledo, and Traverse Symphony Orchestras, with the Detroit and Windsor (Canada) Symphony Orchestras, and with Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band, among others. A passionate advocate of contemporary music, Luevano has created consortiums to commission works for clarinet from composers Evan Chambers and Roshanne Etezady and has performed as soloist in acclaimed performances of prominent contemporary works for clarinet and wind ensemble including Michael Daugherty’s “Brooklyn Bridge” and Scott McAllister’s “X” and “Black Dog.” She performed as part the world premiere of Scott McAllister’s “Epic Concerto” at the 2012 ClarinetFest® conference.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico where she studied with Keith Lemmons, Dr. Cole Luevano studied in Paris, France with Guy Deplus and Alain Damiens as the recipient of a U. S. Government Fulbright Grant and Kade Fellowship. A prizewinner in competitions such as the International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition, the Oklahoma City Young Artists Competition, and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, Cole also received performance fellowships to the Blossom Festival and the National Orchestral Institute. She earned her MM and DMA degrees at Michigan State University where she studied with Elsa Ludewig Verdehr and her undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas where she studied with James Gillespie. Prior to her appointment at the University of North Texas, she was Professor of Clarinet at Eastern Michigan University for fifteen years.
Cole Luevano is a Buffet Group artist who plays exclusively on Buffet Crampon clarinets and a D’Addario and Company Performing Artist.
