Brian Grivna at Jazz Central Studios

Brian Grivna hit the stage as a Young Artist clarinet soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra when he was just 12. By age 15 was subbing on sax for his teacher in area dance bands. Earning a degree in English literature from Dartmouth, his music career took off after graduation, with work in jazz, commercial, and theater music before joining the Buddy Rich band in 1971. After two years, he became a staff woodwind performer for the Guthrie Theatre, leaving after ten years to freelance and teach. He toured Japan and Europe with Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue and Osmo Vänskä; and the West Coast with Bobby McFerrin and the SPCO....

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Brian Grivna hit the stage as a Young Artist clarinet soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra when he was just 12. By age 15 was subbing on sax for his teacher in area dance bands. Earning a degree in English literature from Dartmouth, his music career took off after graduation, with work in jazz, commercial, and theater music before joining the Buddy Rich band in 1971. After two years, he became a staff woodwind performer for the Guthrie Theatre, leaving after ten years to freelance and teach. He toured Japan and Europe with Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue and Osmo Vänskä; and the West Coast with Bobby McFerrin and the SPCO.

Brian continues to work with the SPCO, Minnesota Orchestra, Children’s Theater Company and touring show pit orchestras (clarinet and sax), and teaches at the University of Minnesota and in his home studio.

As always Monday Featured Artist nights are followed up with a old fashioned jam session where visiting musicians (novice and experienced) are invited to play and hone their skills!

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