Why I Chose Backun
"Finding my Backun Q Series Clarinet was one of the best things that has happened for my playing. The homogeny of sound across all the registers allows my musicality to shine through. The clarinet now truly feels like an extension of myself rather than an obstacle I have to manipulate in order to express myself effectively. I could not be happier with these instruments and what it has done for my playing."
About
Originally from Centreville, VA, Dr. Lee Seidner’s playing has been described as, “beautifully articulated,” in addition to providing, “a rich palette of sounds with admirable breath control and elegant phrasing.” Dr. Seidner is an avid performer and teacher in South Florida. He has performed with the Sarasota Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Florida Grand Opera, Orchestra Miami, & the Nu Deco Ensemble, a contemporary, genre-bending orchestra based in Miami with whom he has performed alongside guest artists such as Angelique Kidjo, Cimafunk, Hooray for the Riff Raff, José James, and Larkin Poe. He has also performed with the likes of Ben Folds, Estelle, John Secada, Michael Feinstein, & Bruce Hornsby. Dr. Seidner received his doctorate in clarinet performance from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he also earned an Artist Diploma and masters degree in clarinet performance after earning his undergraduate degree in music education and masters degree in curriculum & instruction from Virginia Tech where he was the winner of the 20th Annual Solo Competition at the music school.
Dr. Seidner has always had a strong passion for music education. This passion for education brought him to collaborate with his mentor, Dr. Margaret Donaghue, and colleague, Dr. Claire Grellier, to create the Miami Clarinet Institute, a virtual learning environment that holds masterclasses on clarinet fundamentals and core repertoire. This same passion for education is also what charged his doctoral research in which he surveyed band directors across the state of Florida to see which areas of clarinet fundamentals the directors needed help teaching. This survey was used as a foundation for a clarinet fundamentals guide written with the band director in mind. Aside from teaching private clarinet lessons, Dr. Seidner is a sought-after clinician and teaches clarinet sectionals and masterclasses in addition to leadership workshops and marching band camps for high schools and colleges across the country. Outside of his time in music, Dr. Seidner can be seen on a bike as a full-time instructor at SoulCycle in Miami.
