Why I Chose Backun
"I fell in love with Backun clarinets the first time I played a Lumière - I was immediately impressed with its smoothness, resonance, intonation, richness of tone, and effortless response throughout the entire range. These clarinets have completely changed my approach to making music in the best way possible - I have felt as though I am finally able to express myself and to find my true musical voice. Practicing on these instruments is FUN, and performing on them is even better! Huge thanks to the Backun team for making such lovely clarinets!"
About
Adria Sutherland joined the faculty at Eastern Kentucky University in 2018 as the Beeler Professor of Clarinet, and she is the Kentucky state chair of the International Clarinet Association. Dr. Sutherland received her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kentucky, her Master of Music degree at East Carolina University, and her Bachelor of Music degree at Morehead State University. She additionally holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Previous collegiate teaching positions include Berea College, Morehead State University, Transylvania University, Georgetown College, and Asbury College.
Dr. Sutherland began her performance career at the age of 18 as a clarinet substitute with the Lexington Philharmonic. Since then, she has performed with the Trade Winds and Excelcia Recording Ensembles (Tampa, FL), the National Wind Ensemble in Carnegie Hall (Principal/Soloist), the Camerata New York Orchestra (NYC), the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra-NYC (a 12-piece ensemble accompanying silent films), the North Carolina Chamber Orchestra, and various other orchestral ensembles. Dr. Sutherland is an avid chamber musician and enjoys performing with her clarinet duo La HERmandad, who made its debut at the International Clarinet Association’s Clareidoscope and the 2022 ClarinetFest in Reno, NV; and Favonian Winds, her woodwind trio that was a semi-finalist in the 2021 American Prize in Chamber Music Performance, Professional Division. Her experiences have allowed her to perform throughout the continental United States and western Europe. She is additionally passionate about community music, and she has performed with the Louisville Concert Band/Chamber Winds, the Central Kentucky Concert Band, the Madison Community Band, the Lexington Community Orchestra, and the Advocate Brass Band.
Dr. Sutherland has taught applied clarinet and masterclasses to all ages and has coached sectionals for top tier schools throughout her career. Her students have a proven record of success, having won positions at the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival, the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, and in All-State Bands and Intercollegiate Bands, many earning principal positions. An active clinician, Dr. Sutherland is a frequent guest artist at universities, and she has been a guest artist at the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts since 2015, where she teaches applied clarinet and chamber music. She is additionally on the faculty of the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp, the nation’s second oldest summer music camp, where she teaches masterclasses and chamber music to over 50 middle and high school clarinetists. Dr. Sutherland is an outdoor enthusiast, and loves to hike, camp, bike, and kayak with her family and dogs every chance she gets.
