Published: January 10, 2008 12:16 pm            

Clarinetist relishes seat in middle of the action

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

As second clarinetist for Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Rebecca Catelinet of Westmont keeps in harmony with the rest of the orchestra.

While the principal clarinetist has more to play, including more solos, the second clarinetist adds harmony and sometimes plays together with first clarinetist, Catelinet said.

Johnstown Symphony only has two clarinet players in its woodwind section, which includes flutes, oboes and bassoons.

“Some larger symphonies have four clarinets,” Catelinet said.

Catelinet usually plays at every concert, but at times, she doesn’t have to play at all because there is no clarinet part.

“ ‘The Messiah’ was written before the clarinet was used or developed, so I get a break,” Catelinet said.

“When we did it several years ago, I joined the symphony chorus. I was a regular member of the chorus before I joined the symphony.”

The symphony’s woodwind section is located in the center of the orchestra, which puts Catelinet in the middle of the action.

“I can hear the music all around me,” she said. “I love being in the midst of all that wonderful sound. I appreciate it as a musician.”

Catelinet said when friends came to hear her play, they didn’t expect the symphony to be as good as it is.

“It’s an excellent orchestra, and Maestro Jaray is a wonderful director,” Catelinet said.

“Give it a try. Don’t be afraid of classical music.”

Catelinet began playing with the symphony in 1976 when she filled in for the second clarinetist, who was having surgery.

She continued to fill in as needed for several years before landing a permanent position in the late 1970s.

After growing up in Westmont and attending Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees, Catelinet’s intention was to become a music teacher.

She did teach instrumental music in Pittsburgh and Johnstown public schools for several years before her first venture into nonprofit administration.



Rebecca Catelinet

What: Second clarinetist for Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.

Residence: Westmont.

Education: Graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School; received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University.

Employment: Executive director, Johnstown Free Medical Clinic.

Family: Two sons, Philip, New York City, and Michael, Baltimore.

When she returned to Johnstown in 1973, Catelinet became development director for the Easter Seal Society of Western Pennsylvania. She accepted her current position at the Johnstown Free Medical Clinic in 2002.

Her love of music follows her to her office at Memorial Medical Center’s Lee Campus, 320 Main St., Johnstown. When she interviews patients for the clinic, she has a compact-disc player or radio tuned to classical music. “They tell me it sounds so nice in here,” Catelinet said.

Music runs through the heart of the Catelinet family. Her mother, Marian Beerman, plays piano, and her two sons have studied viola and violin since elementary school.

Both now play with symphony orchestras.

Her sons’ paternal grandfather, Philip Catelinet, was a well-known tubaist who played with the BBC and London symphony orchestras.

        

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