Keith Gates: Music

Raphael Sanders is Associate Professor of Clarinet at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam. Dr. Sanders holds degrees from the University of Hawaii, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the University of North Texas. Raphael's clarinet mentors include Robert Marcellus, David Breeden, Henry Miyamura, and James Gillespie.

Originally from Hawaii, Raphael began performing on the ukulele at the age of 12, with his father. Before leaving Hawaii to become a professional clarinetist Raphael was a public school band director. During that time he performed on the clarinet, oboe, bassoon and tuba. As a clarinetist, he has performed with orchestras in San Francisco, Houston, New York, the USAF Band, and has taught at the college level in Texas and Nevada.

Raphael performs regularly throughout the United States and abroad and recently returned from a 9-day residency in Canton (Guangzhou), China and a 5-day residency in Cardiff, Wales at the Royal Welch School of Music and Dance. He is a member of the acclaimed group Texas Clarinet Consort, which has performed in Sweden, Belgium, France, England, Vancouver, and Mexico.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Raphael has performed at ClarinetFests in Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Lubbock, Oostende, Paris, Stockholm, and New Orleans. His students are members of orchestras and military bands are themselves outstanding teachers in k-12 or colleges in the U.S.A. Raphael performed his New York City debut recital in June 2005, followed by solo performances in Flushing, Douglaston, Manhattan, and the Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2006.

Dr. Sanders is a performing artist with Buffet Crampon Corporation, conducting clinics and masterclasses throughout America, and recently completed a tour of Colorado and Texas. He is also a gold performing artist with D'Addario. He is currently the I.C.A. New York State Chair. In 1997 Raphael established the I.C.A. Orchestral Audition Competition. In 2003 Dr. Sanders received a special award from I.C.A.: Inscribed "In appreciation for dedicated service", which only serves to amplify his commitment to teaching and performing. He currently plays on Tosca (Bb & A), R-13 Eb & Prestige Bass clarinets, Henry Chedeville mouthpieces, Bonade ligature, and Rico Grand Concert Thick Blank Reeds.