Clarinetist David Shifrin and pianist Marina Iwao perform works by Leonard Bernstein, Francis Poulenc, Claude Debussy, George Gershwin arranged by Michele Mangani, and a piece by Duke Ellington arranged by David Shifrin himself. The performance is live from the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago.
Winner of both the Avery Fisher Career Grant (1987) and the Avery Fisher Prize (2000) David Shifrin is in constant demand as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He has appeared with many of the major orchestras in the United States and abroad and has served as principal clarinetist with the Cleveland Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra (under Stokowski), Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and others. As soloist Shifrin has performed throughout the world including recitals at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Library of Congress. Notable concerto performances include the Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Houston Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Denver Symphony Orchestra, orchestras in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.
Mr. Shifrin’s recordings for Delos, DGG, Angel/EMI, Arabesque, BMG, SONY, CRI, Musica Solis have consistently garnered praise and awards. He has received three Grammy nominations – for a collaborative recording with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center of the collected chamber music of Claude Debussy (Delos), the Copland Clarinet Concerto (Angel/EMI) and Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro with Nancy Allen, Ransom Wilson, and the Tokyo String Quartet (Angel/EMI). His recording of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, performed in its original version on a specially built basset clarinet, was named Record of the Year by Stereo Review. David Shifrin can be heard on two albums with the late composer Lalo Schifrin; “Shifrin Plays Schifrin” and “Letters from Argentina” (nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2007). In 2023 David Shifrin’s recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Concerto for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra with Chamber Music Northwest on the Delos Label was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” From the Library of Congress. His most recent release is on the Music Solis Label is the critically acclaimed “Perpetual Motion”- music of Francis Poulenc.
Marina Iwao is a Japanese-born pianist acclaimed for her nuanced artistry, expressive range, and deep commitment to ensemble playing. Praised for her sensitivity, clarity, and versatility, she has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Frank Morelli, David Shifrin, Quatuor Debussy, Tara O’Connor, and Daniel Phillips, among many others.
An avid chamber musician, she performs regularly in recitals and at festivals across the United States. Recent highlights include a fall 2025 tour with clarinetist David Shifrin and appearances at Music from Angel Fire in New Mexico. She gave the world premiere of Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Margaret Brouwer with clarinetist Thomas Piercy at the 2023 International ClarinetFest in Denver.
Marina brings the same depth of interpretation and artistic commitment to both classical and contemporary repertoire, building meaningful connections with music of all eras. She is a member of Random Access Music, a New York City–based collective of composers and performers. She also performs with the Dolphins Quartet, winner of the 2026 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition Lerman Gold Prize, in live screenings of Buster Keaton films featuring original scores by Stephen Prutsman.
