Why I Chose Backun
"Morrie Backun is one of premiere instrument innovators alive today. For my students and myself, Backun instruments provide a beautifully even scale, rich color, and impeccable intonation. These instruments are true works of art."
About
Victor M. Drescher joined the faculty at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2013 as Instructor of Clarinet and Assistant Director of Bands where he teaches courses in clarinet, music education, woodwind methods, and coaches multiple chamber groups. Prior to this appointment he served for five years as Assistant Director of Bands at East Ascension High School in Gonzales, LA where his ensembles received no less than superior concert awards at LMEA District and State festivals for all five years of his tenure. In 2011, Drescher was honored by the LMEA with their Outstanding Young Music Teacher Award, and he currently serves as the University-Research chair for LMEA. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music Performance and Music Education and a Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University where he served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for two years and graduated as a University Medalist. Drescher has also completed postgraduate work at the University of North Texas. His primary clarinet instructors were Steven Cohen, Dr. James Gillespie, Justin O’Dell, Ronald DeKant, and Dr. Mary Druhan.
Mr. Drescher is an active clinician and clarinet performer and has performed as a soloist at venues as wide ranging as the Meyerson Center in Dallas, Carnegie Hall, and the House of Blues in New Orleans. He runs his own clarinet specialty retail business, Drescher Music, LLC and hosts a Single Reed Day on Southeastern’s campus every March which features guest artists from across the US. He has performed in recital at the 2014 International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest, and as a featured soloist with the Louisiana Sinfonietta, the Southeastern Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestras. Drescher has served as the principal clarinetist with Opera Louisiane and the Louisiana Sinfonietta since 2007 and also performs with the Baton Rouge Symphony, Acadiana Symphony and Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestras. An active chamber musician, Drescher performs as the clarinetist with the Lagniappe Wind Quintet and in a clarinet/flute duo with his wife Shanna Drescher, the current flute professor at Southeastern. He is also a champion of new music for chamber ensembles and for the clarinet and premieres multiple works every year including collaborations and commissions with local composers. His playing can be heard on the Centaur record label performing works by composer Dinos Constantinides.
Drescher holds professional memberships in LMEA, NAfME, the International Clarinet Association, MTNA, Golden Key Honour Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha (Honorary), and Kappa Kappa Psi (Honorary).
