B i o g r a p h y
Award winning clarinetist Brennen Milton has performed at Carnegie Hall as well as in Sacramento's most well known venues. He has collaborated with highly skilled and accomplished musicians from around the world, and strives to bring an excellent musical experience to all through performance, coaching, and teaching.
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Brennen debuted at Carnegie Hall in April of 2016 when The Inter Harmony International Music Festival invited him to perform on their 2016 New York concert series. Earlier that summer they featured him on their student showcase at their festival in Arcidosso, Italy where he performed Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsody as well as with chamber ensembles and the festival orchestra. In 2014 The International Lyric Academy offered Brennen a scholarship to study and perform in Viterbo, Italy as part of their Opera orchestra as well as part of the Tusica Opera Festival Orchestra. They featured him as part of their festival chamber music series where he performed Brahms’ Op. 120 No.2 and the beloved Clarinet Quintet (Op. 115). Brennen took his music to the streets to entertain Italian citizens during his free time there.
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Brennen's first orchestral solo performance came in October of 2015 when California State University Sacramento's Symphony Orchestra featured him as soloist for the first concert of their 2015-2016 season. Brennen received this honor by successfully auditioning for the university's concerto competition earlier that year. For the audition and the final performance Brennen performed Debussy's Premiere Rhapsodie, which Debussy scored in two versions: one for Clarinet and Orchestra and another for Clarinet and Piano. Brennen hopes to collaborate with other musicians to perform this piece.
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In addition to his solo performances, Brennen has also performed as an orchestral musician in the Sacramento Region. Most recently the Sacramento Choral Society Orchestra invited Brennen to perform as a substitute for their annual Wells Fargo sponsored production of Home for the Holidays. Earlier in 2015 musicians of the Sacramento Philharmonic invited Brennen to perform as a substitute for their educational concert and also served them as Eb/auxiliary clarinetist in their production of Mahler's 2nd Symphony at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Brennen currently performs with the Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra as a clarinetist and librarian.
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Mr. Milton also plays with wind bands. In 2007 Brennen enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to join their field band. They sent him to the Naval School of Music for the Armed Forces, in Norfolk, VA, where he graduated as honor graduate and a member of the 3.0 club, an honor bestowed upon the the performers with scores of 3.0 or higher. Brennen served as Section Leader for the “Golden State Wind Band,” which was an ensemble whose mission was to provide everyone with access to wind music. Brennen has also volunteered for local community, college, and university bands.
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Brennen also serves his region as a freelance musician and street performer. He sets up his iPad and clarinet stand wherever there is space for him. He provides incidental music for parties, wedding proposals, and whatever event you may have. He has appeared with different ensembles in Sacramento, and has even been featured on their morning news show “Good Day Sacramento.”
In July 2016 Brennen performed a sold out concert for the Crocker Art Museum's Classical Music Series with an All-American Classical Music Program for Independace day! Mr. Milton hopes to take this program and others like it on tour, sharing with people everywhere the joy and beauty of instrumental chamber music.
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Mr. Milton has trained with professionals of music from various parts of the United States and abroad. Brennen received his first formal clarinet lessons from James Gholson at the University of Memphis. After completing his undergraduate degree at Alcorn State University and finishing his military assignment in North Carolina Brennen moved to California where he earned a Master’s Degree in Music Performance at California State University Sacramento. There he began his studies with clarinetist Deborah Pittman, and finished his degree under the instruction of clarinetist Sandra McPherson.
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On the whole, Brennen performs with everything he has and continues to look for more opportunities, friends, and music. He longs to continue to travel the world performing with and teaching the clarinet. Above all, he hopes you are touched in some way by his performances and messages.