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Zoltan Kalman, clarinettist

By Eva Hegyi
December 2009

The Hungarian-born clarinettist Zoltan Kalman was trained at the renowned Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. After graduating, he became principal clarinettist with the Hungarian State Orchestra before serving for six years as principal with the Budapest Opera Orchestra. Kalman arrived in Canada in 1989 and has since appeared as guest soloist with a number of orchestras and ensembles in Ontario. He is currently principal clarinettist with Niagara Symphony and Symphony Hamilton and appears with other symphony orchestras, such as the Brantford Symphony, Mississauga Opera Company and Scarborough Symphony, on a regular basis. In addition to making music, Kalman also teaches clarinet at McMaster University in Hamilton and gives lessons in clarinet, saxophone and woodwind techniques at Brock University in St. Catharines. At the latter university, he is also conductor of the University Wind Ensemble which enjoys a rich heritage of musical excellence.

In 2006, at the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, Kalman was selected by the NAC as one of the 50 Hungarian-Canadians who have contributed in a unique way to Canada. Moreover, Kalman’s portrait has become part of the permanent collection at the Portrait Gallery of Canada.
On November 27, 2009, Zoltan Kalman presented ”Virtuoso Clarinet“ on clarinet, together with Brenda Joyce on piano, at the University of Western Ontario in London.

To read in more detail about Zoltan Kalman’s biography and his performance at the University of Western Ontario, please click here.