Michael Rusinek

Michael Rusinek joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 1998 and holds the Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Silberman Principal Clarinet chair. Born in Toronto, his early studies were with Avrahm Galper at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He later attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, he was appointed by Mstislav Rostropovich to the post of Assistant Principal Clarinet with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Rusinek has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, National Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic, Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Curtis Institute of Music. As a recitalist, he has been heard across Canada on CBC Radio and in live concerts. Mr. Rusinek has also performed extensively throughout the United States and Israel. In 1985 he was awarded the grand prize in the International Clarinet Society competition and was a prize-winner in the Belgrade International Clarinet competition. In 1989 Mr. Rusinek was chosen to represent Canada at the International Clarinet Festival in Martinique, France. He has participated in many music festivals in the United States and Canada, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, the Portland Chamber Music Festival, the Grand Tetons Music Festival, the San Juan Islands Chamber Festival and the Marlboro Music Festival. He continues to perform with the acclaimed “Musicians from Marlboro,” the touring branch of the festival.

Mr. Rusinek was recently featured on Sony records celebrating Marlboro’s 50th anniversary. In the summer of 2000 he performed as Principal Clarinet in the Super World Orchestra, an orchestra comprised of musicians from orchestras around the world. Dedicated to teaching, he serves on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University and the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University. He is currently working on “Clarinetscape,” an educational website for clarinetists.