EAGLE & SOUTH MERIDIAN
CHARLES KEVIN BOLEN (Clarinet, Saxophone) Kevin currently serves as principal clarinet with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and Treasure Valley Concert Band from 2016 to present. In 2019 he was a member of the pit orchestra for the Opera Idaho production of Puccini’s La Boheme. During his career as a USAF bandsman from 1990 to 2012 Kevin performed both as section clarinetist and featured soloist throughout the US, Europe, and parts of Asia, Russia and the Middle East. As a member of the USAF Band of the Golden West in Northern California, he was the featured soloist performing Artie Shaw’s Concerto for clarinet at the Mondavi performing arts center in Davis, California. The Band of the Golden West was the first military band invited to perform in that venue. In 2005 and 2007 he was a member of the BOTGW Jazz Ambassadors which was invited to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California. From 1996 to 2004 Kevin was hand picked to join the United States Air Forces in Europe Band in Sembach, Germany. While in Europe he performed Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in the Philharmonic in Berlin (home of the Berlin Philharmonic), the Gewand Haus in Leipzig, Germany and twice at Royal Albert Hall in London. As the music director and clarinetist with the early jazz ensemble, Wings of Dixie, he performed in every US embassy in Europe, in fact, he performed at the US embassies in Warsaw, Berlin and Paris in one day to celebrate 4th of July festivities. In his rare off time he performed with local community bands in southern Germany. In 1990 he won the clarinet audition for the 702nd Strategic Air Command Band in Omaha, Nebraska, while assigned there Kevin became music director of the woodwind quintet culminating in the first Air Force field band chamber music cd, in addition the band was invited to perform at the annual Mid West Orchestra and Band convention in Chicago. Prior to the beginning of his 22 year career as a military musician he earned bachelors and masters degrees in clarinet from Stetson University and The Florida State University, his primary teachers include Dr Frank Kowalsky (FSU), Dr. Timothy Maloney (SU), Jon Bruce Yeh (associate principal clarinet Chicago Symphony Orchestra) and Jesse Ewing. Kevin was also a member of the Florida Space Coast Philharmonic (2nd/E-flat clarinet from 1984 to 1990). |
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