Driving for Dollars

Feb 04 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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I have been freelancing and driving all over the Northeastern Ohio area since I was 18. I was lucky to have teachers early on who are in the freelance scene to refer me for gigs. I play in the Akron and Canton Symphonies in Ohio, and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison, Wisconsin, as well as freelancing in many other groups in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Two years ago, I moved to Akron to try to cut down on my gas consumption. Even with the move I still drove just under 36,000 miles last year. I do enjoy traveling to my various locations for work, with the exception of the eight-hour commute to Madison during the winter months.

I really don’t have a typical schedule, but I average working for about three weeks out of every month. All of the groups I’m in rehearse in the evenings and I’ll often be playing youth concerts or doing educational presentations in schools during the day. I also will have up to a month off at certain times during the year. I don’t teach because of my hectic schedule.

Attendance and the balancing of schedules seems to always be high on my list of concerns each season, along with trying to fill my year with as much work as possible.

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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