Amitai Vardi - Clarinet

Clarinetist Amitai Vardi, an avid soloist, orchestral, and chamber musician, serves as Associate Professor of Clarinet at Kent State University. Vardi made his solo debut at the age of sixteen with the Madison Symphony Orchestra. He has since won several concerto competitions and was a featured soloist with The CIM Orchestra, the Round Top Symphony Orchestra, the Spoleto Symphony Orchestra, the Blue Water Chamber Orchestra, and with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

As an orchestral player, Vardi served as principal clarinetist of Red {an orchestra}, Opera Cleveland and Lyric Opera Cleveland. He currently holds the position of principal clarinet with the Blue Water Chamber Orchestra and the Erie Philharmonic. Vardi has performed with many orchestras, including the American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and The Cleveland Orchestra, with which he performed well over 150 concerts including many tours. During the 2014-2015 season, Vardi substituted with TCO on bass clarinet for most of the season.

His enthusiasm for chamber music has led to performances across the United States, South America, and Europe. He is featured in several chamber music CDs, including a recent release on the Delos label with his father, cellist Uri Vardi.

Vardi received his Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University, where he studied with Eli Eban and his Master of Music degree at The Cleveland Institute of Music, as a student of Franklin Cohen. Mr. Vardi pursued his post-graduate studies with Yehuda Gilad in Los Angeles.