Clarinetist Robin Seletsky is a classically trained performer who is equally at home with the klezmer style.  She lives in upstate New York and recently retired as principal clarinetist with the Glimmerglass Opera Festival after 32 years.  She is a graduate of the New England Conservatory, later attended the Juilliard School, and is a former Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the San Antonio Symphony.  Although she grew up with the sounds of klezmer from listening to her father, Harold Seletsky (“The Prez of Klez”), it wasn’t until the midst of the klezmer revival that she began her own exploration into this style of music.  She has performed extensively, around the United States and as far away as India, as both a klezmer soloist and as a member of her klezmer ensemble, Big Galute.

In addition to her professional performing work she is sought after as a teacher of both klezmer and classical styles.  Robin is instructor of clarinet in New York State at Hartwick College, SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Broome.  Her careful analysis of subtle klezmer inflections, along with her many years of experience explaining how to achieve these inflections, has helped students around the world connect emotionally to this very soulful music.