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John Reeks
Education:
Master of Music – Loyola University New Orleans
Bachelor of Music Education – Loyola University New Orleans
John Reeks is one of the founding members of the Philharmonic and has served two terms as its President. He has held the position of Clarinet Instructor on the faculty of Loyola University for over thirty years. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and is also sponsored by Ligaphone Ligatures of Paris. During the summer, he is on the faculty of the Interharmony International Music Festival in Italy. John is married to former LPO clarinetist Stephanie Thompson.
John grew up in the “Lower Ninth Ward” of New Orleans in a family filled with generations of musical and graphic artists. He has played orchestral music professionally for over 50 years. In addition to the LPO, he has also worked with the San Antonio Symphony and the orchestras of the Santa Fe and Glimmerglass Operas. He was a member of the Spike Jones Band when that group was revamped in 1992.
John has recorded with artists ranging in diversity from Randy Newman to Nine Inch Nails. His latest recording project was sponsored by Loyola University and the Yamaha Corporation. It resulted in Old Wine In New Bottles, which is available on Spotify and Apple Music. He performed the works from this project live at ClarinetFest 2007 in Vancouver and has been featured at numerous International Clarinet Association ClarinetFests, including the world premiere of Stephen Dankner’s Adagio Appassionata: New Orleans, August 29, 2005. He was a Host of ClarinetFest 2001 in New Orleans. John presented the U.S. premiere of Dietrich Erdmann’s Concerto for Bass Clarinet (with the Louisiana Philharmonic) in February, 2005.
