Ron Samuels was appointed second clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by the eminent conductor Mariss Jansons at the start of the 2001-02 season. He was invited to join the faculty of Duquesne University that same year. Previously, he was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and he served as principal clarinetist of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, guest principal clarinetist with both the Minnesota Orchestra and San Diego Symphony and guest second clarinetist with the Cleveland Orchestra.
A native of San Francisco, Ron has enjoyed a richly varied career as a symphonic musician, chamber music, concerto soloist, collegiate professor and master class clinician. He graduated from the University of Southern California where he studied with Mitchell Lurie, and he has frequently returns as a guest lecturer.
Ron has appeared on chamber music and recital series throughout the United States, Colombia and Argentina. He has also been a featured soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded contemporary chamber music for Opus One Records, Toccata Classics and Hearts of Space Records as well as a solo CD for KOCH International Classics featuring an all-French program and highlighted by the world-premiere recording of an early 19th-century concerto by Charles Duvernoy.
Ron has championed the music of several contemporary composers and has participated in performances, on recordings and as part of consortiums of several new-work commissions. Among these have been Anthony Iannaccone's Concertante for Clarinet and Orchestra for which he gave the American premiere; William Albright's Quintet for Clarinet and Strings; John Harbison's Concerto for Oboe, Clarinet and Orchestra; and three premier performances of works by the late David Stock: Sea of Reeds for Reed Trio, Anasazi Moonlight for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano and Klezmer Dreams for Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet.
On the faculty of Duquesne University, Ron has been a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and the Interlochen Arts Academy. He has also given master classes at several schools in the US, including the University of Southern California, Oberlin College, as well as in Spain, Colombia, Argentina and Chile.
During the summer, Ron is on the faculty of the ARIA International Summer Academy. He has also been the principal clarinetist of the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Santa Fe Opera. Ron is a Yamaha Artist and Vandoren Artist. He performs on Yamaha YCL-CSVR clarinets and Vandoren mouthpieces and reeds.
