MEET THE MUSICIANS
JULIAN KAPLAN TRUMPET You might not think of music as a career path when your dad worked with the NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and owned a NASCAR memorabilia store. Yet Julian Kaplan of Charlotte, N.C., decided to follow in his sister’s footsteps. She plays flute and went on to a degree in music education. His mom managed a music store and sold musical instruments. The Lincoln County public schools offered a great music program. Growing up he joined his sister playing in the marching band and concert band, and now they play together in the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. Julian attended the University of Kentucky. Upon graduation he has served as principal trumpet of the Lexington Philharmonic and has performed with the Atlanta Symphony and Asheville Symphony. Though he loves Strauss and Mahler, he’s a big jazz aficionado and has recorded a jazz album. His life’s goal, other than becoming a scratch golfer, is to play with the Zac Brown Band. By Amy Rankin | Photo by Tiffany Manning
ABOUT THE LOCATION - Local developer SouthEast Group is set to renovate the historic Marble Bank Building and transform it into Jacksonville’s newest choice for dinner before a performance. Acclaimed chef Scotty Schwartz presents sophisticated Southern cuisine in an elegant setting fit for night on the town. Encore! 61
MEET THE MUSICIANS
PETER WRIGHT PRINCIPAL CLARINET A “rollercoaster career” would not normally describe someone who’s been a pillar in the woodwind section of a symphony orchestra for 40 years. Yet rollercoasters have been a lifelong obsession for Principal Clarinetist Peter Wright. The self-proclaimed “adrenaline junkie” has catapulted his way through just about every roller coaster around the globe – more than 500 and counting. Undoubtedly he is passionate about his hobby of riding roller coasters, but music is Peter’s true passion. To celebrate four decades with the Jacksonville Symphony, Peter took center stage to perform the world premiere of a piece he commissioned, titled HiJinx. It was composed by his long-time friend, Judith Cloud, as a playful autobiography-in-music. A couple dozen famous musical quotes were woven into the piece, from clarinet concerti and operatic arias to pop culture references, all emulating Peter’s life. A Florida native, Peter graduated from Fernandina Beach High School, where his father was the principal. As a child, he first picked up the clarinet when his oldest sister got a new clarinet and the old one was handed down to him. “The rest is history,” he said. By Paul Witkowski Photo by Tiffany Manning
ABOUT THE LOCATION - Local developer SouthEast Group is set to transform the historic Barnett Bank Building into a mixed-use, live/work environment devoted to supporting and growing local entrepreneurs. Log on to thebarnettjax.com for more information. ENCORE! 75