Clarinetist Stanley Drucker retires from NY Philharmonic

Stanley Drucker
He's played with the New York Philharmonic since he was in his teens. This Tuesday, Stanley Drucker ends his tenure on a lyrical note performing the Copland Clarinet Concerto.
Photo: Chris Lee

Tuesday night, clarinetist Stanley Drucker performs with the New York Philharmonic.

That's not news. Mr. Drucker has played with the orchestra literally thousands of times.

What's special about this concert -- as he stands in front of the orchestra for an old favorite, the Copland Concerto -- is that it marks the end of that tenure. At 80, Stanley Drucker is retiring after 60 years playing with the New York Philharmonic.

The Brooklyn native took the time after a rehearsal to talk with us about Copland, his career with his hometown orchestra, and what comes next.

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Tune in to American Public Media's Performance Today on Monday to hear Drucker play the Copeland Concerto with the New York Philharmonic and conductor Leonard Bernstein.