Morrie Backun treats his clients and their instruments like gold. His knowledge, equipment, and standards make him and his team the leading repair and design shop for winds and brass. His investment in technology has founded the most advanced woodwind manufacturing plant in the world. His understanding of acoustical voicing, wood and technology makes him the new Theobald Boehm – his advances in clarinet design are the first significant acoustical and mechanical improvements in 150 years. Morrie’s design work with Leblanc Clarinets is already a legend and will become the standard others strive to achieve for generations to come.
Biography
Chuck Currie is a clarinetist and saxophonist residing in Vancouver, BC. He performs and records with the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble; the Vancouver Island Symphony; and the Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. His chamber groups include Sax Noir and Superstyk, as well as The Best Coast Bass Clarinet Quartet and Vancouver Saxophone Ensemble.
He has performed at Canadian Music Educator Association conventions, World Association of Bands and Ensembles conferences, North American Saxophone Alliance conferences and at International Clarinet Association ClarinetFests. A reviewer of the opening concert of the Vancouver 2007 ClarinetFest reported “he did an absolutely amazing job of interpreting the bass clarinet solos in Frank Ticheli’s Blue Shades. Never have I heard a bass clarinet shape and bend notes like that… what amazing projection.”
He teaches at his own Sax Noir Studio, and conducts clinics and masterclasses throughout British Columbia. Students have auditioned successfully for the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the British Columbia Honour Orchestra, the UBC School of Music, the National Youth Band of Canada, and the International Honors Wind Symphony at Lincoln Center, New York. His students have been awarded scholarships by Doctor Eugene Rousseau at his annual Vancouver Community College Master Class. Chuck is the saxophone coach for the Greater Vancouver Youth Music Academy Wind Ensemble.
He is a Canadian Champion for Music Education, a Conn-Selmer Artist, performing on Yanagisawa Silver Sonic saxophones and Selmer Privilege Bass Clarinets. He is a Backun artist, playing MoBa cocobolo clarinets. He uses Backun mouthpieces, bells and barrels exclusively on all clarinets; and Legere Reeds on saxophone.
