Driving for Dollars

Feb 10 2008
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Todd Jelen
Todd Jelen

Todd Jelen is the principal bassoonist with the Akron and Canton Symphonies in Ohio and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison, Wisconsin. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Utah Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Youngstown Symphony and the Cleveland Opera and Ballet Orchestras.

Mr. Jelen received his Bachelors Degree in Music from Cleveland State University, where he studied with Cleveland Orchestra members Ronald Phillips and Phillip Austin. He received his Master’s Degree in Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music where his mentor was The Cleveland Orchestra’s principal bassoonist, John Clouser. While studying at CIM, Todd was also a member of the Juniper Woodwind Quintet, which placed second at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition and third in the Darius Milhaud Performance Prize Competition.

As a solo performer, Todd has been featured in Weber’s [i]Andante and Hungarian Rondo[/i] with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Villa-Lobos’ [i]Ceranda Des Sete Notas[/i] with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. He also performed with the Utah Symphony on their 2005 European tour. Todd has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Orford Arts Centre in Quebec.

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Exhaustion does take its toll when I’m driving long distances. When I drive to Wisconsin, I usually drive up the day of the first rehearsal to save on accommodations. After that drive, it’s difficult to concentrate and fully function in the rehearsal that evening. I will stay there for a week at a time to six weeks in the summer, so at least I’m not making that commute daily.

Most of my other commutes are all of 5 to 25 minutes. There are times, however, that I will play with groups 1 to 2 1/2 hours away. This is when driving will really take its toll over the course of the week if that orchestra does not have some sort of lodging to offer musicians. There are two orchestras in the NE Ohio/ NW Pennsylvania area that I freelance in that offer lodging to its musicians. I have noticed that the focus of the group over the week, as well as the overall attitude of the musicians, is much better when people aren’t spending long amounts of time in their cars.

About the author

Todd Jelen
Todd Jelen

Todd Jelen is the principal bassoonist with the Akron and Canton Symphonies in Ohio and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison, Wisconsin. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Utah Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Youngstown Symphony and the Cleveland Opera and Ballet Orchestras.

Mr. Jelen received his Bachelors Degree in Music from Cleveland State University, where he studied with Cleveland Orchestra members Ronald Phillips and Phillip Austin. He received his Master’s Degree in Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music where his mentor was The Cleveland Orchestra’s principal bassoonist, John Clouser. While studying at CIM, Todd was also a member of the Juniper Woodwind Quintet, which placed second at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition and third in the Darius Milhaud Performance Prize Competition.

As a solo performer, Todd has been featured in Weber’s [i]Andante and Hungarian Rondo[/i] with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and Villa-Lobos’ [i]Ceranda Des Sete Notas[/i] with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. He also performed with the Utah Symphony on their 2005 European tour. Todd has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua Music Festival, and the Orford Arts Centre in Quebec.

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