Oran Etkin: Timbalooloo

Saturday, June 03, 2023 @ 11:00am

McCarter Theatre Center (Berlind Theater)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540

Oran Etkin is widely regarded as one of the top clarinetists and composers of his generation. The No. 1 rising star clarinetist in a recent DownBeat magazine Critic’s Poll, Etkin has garnered significant acclaim as a writer and player. But with Timbalooloo, he seeks to do more than just play; the program strives to expose children and families to the richness of global culture in New York and beyond, empowering a new generation to become fluent in the language of music. The educational program comprises classes, workshops, and albums like Finding Friends Far From Home: A Journey with Clara Net, which Etkin will perform at McCarter. The concert starts with a problem... Etkin’s friend Clara (who later turns out to be Clara Net - his clarinet) fell asleep and came to the concert in her bed! The children help Etkin wake her up, and Clara Net calls for her mother, Big Mama Tuba, who answers from the back of the audience with a rumble! Together with the full band, Etkin takes the children on a journey around the world, exploring different instruments and cultures and discovering how vibrant global cultures form the backbone of American music and society. When possible, the concert incorporates projections to help immerse the children into the stories, and a study guide is available to schools interested in digging deeper.

Recommended for ages 2 – 8, older or younger family members or friends are welcome, too!