Play It Forward – Kaden Prichard
Meet Kaden Prichard, a clarinetist and one of All Classical Radio’s 2025-2026 Young Artist Ambassadors. We asked Kaden to share some pieces of music that inspire and move him. Here are a few of his selections.
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Ever since I started playing the clarinet back in the 2nd grade, I have loved this piece of music. Obviously, as a clarinet player, it makes the piece so much more enjoyable when the clarinet opens the entire piece with a wonderful, jazzy clarinet solo. I remember watching the Fantasia animation with Rhapsody in Blue, and it has always appealed to me, and it really shows the versatility of the instrument I play!
Jacob do Bandolim: Doce De Coco (arr. Yo-Yo Ma)
I remember I actually first heard this piece on All Classical Radio in the car with my dad. This is another piece that really made me realize that the clarinet isn’t just a very “plain” classical instrument, and can be used for many different genres of music. This is a piece I can play in the morning to start my day with a bit of joy (and I actually do sometimes). This piece overall is full of joy and energy!
Claude Debussy: Première Rhapsodie
Everyone, at some point, has heard Debussy’s music, whether it’s Clair de Lune or one of the Arabesques. As a clarinet player, it is a great pleasure to have a piece for clarinet written by Debussy. This piece sheds light on the clarinets’ beautiful, warm tone. This piece is also a true demonstration of the lyrical skills of clarinet players. I can’t wait to perform this piece with an orchestra someday!
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
This is one of the pieces that actually introduced me to the clarinet! In elementary school, we would watch the clay animated version of Peter and the Wolf, and my teacher would introduce all of the different characters in the movie with the corresponding instrument that resembled the character. For some reason, the cat (played by the clarinet) always stood out to me. Maybe it was the fact that the cat scared the living daylight out of me every time I watched the movie… but who knows, I guess we will never find out.
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol
This is another piece that contains some of the hardest and most famous clarinet solos in orchestral works. I played this in 2024 with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and every time I played it, it would bring me joy! Something about this piece just reminds me of a massive dance. Playing this piece was a very special opportunity, and every time I hear it, it brings me back to the moments of being so excited to play those energetic solos!
Oscar Navarro: Clarinet Concerto II
I came across this while driving on a bus heading to Granada, Spain, on the Spain/Portugal trip. I remember we would be driving through all of these scenic areas, and I would have this very mystical clarinet solo in the background. The piece has some great Spanish “spice” to it that really resembles Spain’s beautiful landscape and is a real joy to play!
Aaron Copland: Clarinet Concerto
This is one of the clarinet’s most famous solo pieces. It is a very peaceful yet expressive piece composed for Benny Goodman. This piece sounds distinctly American with its distinct tone colors and very open harmonies. I am currently working on this, and it has taught me a lot about playing in different styles. Overall, this piece is very inspiring because of the impact it can make on the audience, given how delicate it is.
About Kaden
Originally from Oak Grove, OR, Kaden Prichard will be a Junior at Interlochen Academy of the Arts. Kaden has been active in Metropolitan Youth Symphony ensembles since 2018 and has played in their full Symphony Orchestra since 2022. Kaden also played with MYS’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Kaden has participated in Oregon state honor bands through middle and high school, and played in the symphony orchestras for both Oregon All-State and NAfME All Northwest in 2025. Kaden was a concerto winner for Young Musicians and Artists at Willamette University in 2024 and was a MYS concerto winner as well as a concerto winner for Willamette Falls Symphony. Kaden was awarded a Fennel Scholarship to attend Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan for the summer of 2025, where he was a member of the World Youth Wind Symphony. Kaden won a scholarship from the Monday Musical Club of Portland in April 2025 and took first place at the OSAA state solo competition in May. When Kaden is not doing anything music-related, he enjoys collecting sneakers, cooking, and golfing with friends.