Guinness thus logged his Philharmonic career at '62 years, 7 months and 1 day as of June 4, 2009'. On Thursday, June 4, 2009, Drucker was awarded a Guinness World Record for longest career as a clarinetist after his performance of Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra. The history of the orchestra is in him.' ĭrucker is highly regarded for his musicianship and his longevity of service with the New York Philharmonic, totaling 10,200 concerts, such as expressed by Gustavo Dudamel in November 2007: His final solo appearance with the orchestra was in June 2009, in performances of the clarinet concerto of Aaron Copland. In January 2008, the New York Philharmonic announced Drucker's retirement from the orchestra at the close of the 2008–2009 season, for a total of 61 years with the orchestra and 49 years as its principal clarinet. Drucker has appeared on two recordings of the Corigliano Clarinet Concerto, a studio recording conducted by Zubin Mehta and a live recording of the 1977 premiere performance conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

He gave the first performances of clarinet concerti by John Corigliano and William Bolcom, both of these commissions for the New York Philharmonic. His time with the New York Philharmonic has included nearly 150 solo appearances with the orchestra. In 1960, he became the orchestra's principal clarinetist, where he remained for the duration of his career. In 1948, Drucker won a post in the New York Philharmonic clarinet section. He then became principal clarinetist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. After a year, he worked with the Busch Little Symphony, organized by Adolf Busch. Drucker entered the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, but left Curtis after one year, recruited to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, at Lincoln Square). He attended the High School of Music & Art (now the Fiorello H. Stanley Drucker (born February 4, 1929) is an American clarinetist.īorn in Brooklyn, New York, of Ukrainian ancestry, Drucker began clarinet studies at age ten with Leon Russianoff, and remained his student for five years.

Leblanc alto clarinet 60s