News
A Clarinetist's Life: Gene Kavadlo
Jan 15, 2016As told to Michael J. Solender
Eugene Kavadlo, 70, is the Principal Clarinetist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. This is his 41st year with CSO.
Right out of college, my first job was a teaching position with the Manhasset Public Schools on Long Island.
I was the woodwinds specialist on the music faculty. It was a very good job. I had three bands I was in charge of, two elementary schools and one junior high school band.
The position paid well for the time and I was doing what I wanted to do as far as teaching. At the same time Ali (Kavadlo's wife Alice, long-time former Principal Viola with CSO) was teaching in a different school district.
In the back of our minds, we always felt we wanted to try our hands at a performing career. After four years teaching in Manhasset, I was offered a position with the Jacksonville, Fla. symphony and also an adjunct faculty position teaching at the university there.
I wanted to try playing with a symphony. Even though I had the good teaching job, this opportunity was more in line with where I saw my career. ...