Meet David Ciucevich
With a diverse portfolio of talents (clarinetist, saxophonist, flutist, guitarist, operatic tenor, educator, and musicologist), David Ciucevich enjoys a varied, fulfilling life and career as a musician throughout Northeast Ohio, the US, and the world. Currently, David serves as Principal Clarinet of the Cleveland (OH) Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played Principal Clarinet with many orchestras including Heights Youth Theatre (OH), Berkshire Opera (MA), Tri-Cities Opera (NY), Fort Collins Symphony (CO), and as Bass Clarinet of the Berkshire Symphony (MA) and Eb and Bass Clarinet of the Cheyenne Symphony (WY). In addition, David has performed as clarinetist with several Broadway touring productions including South Pacific, West Side Story, and The Phantom of the Opera and on clarinets, saxophones, and flutes in shows at Oberlin College (OH), Playhouse Square (Cleveland), Kent State University (OH), Aurora Community Theatre (OH), Mercury Theatre Company (OH), and Heights Youth Theatre (Cleveland). David also plays Lead Alto, Clarinet, and Flute with the Akron Big Band. He served as Lecturer of Clarinet and Music History at The College of St. Rose (NY) and maintains an active teaching studio.
As an operatic tenor, David performed with The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus; and, in January 2018, made his Carnegie Hall debut singing Tenor I with The Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus in Haydn’s The Seasons. He currently sings in solo octets at Park Synagogue (Cleveland). He served as soloist and section leader at Old Stone Church (Cleveland) and in solo octets at Temple Israel (Akron). He was one of fourteen solo singers worldwide chosen in 2012 to participate in the “Vienna: Language of Lieder” program of German language study and lieder in Vienna, Austria which culminated in a recital performance in the birth home of Franz Schubert. David has appeared as soloist in the Verdi Requiem, Beethoven Missa Solemnis, and the Schubert Mass in G and has extensive professional chamber choir experience with ensembles in Philadelphia and New York City.
As a passionate Beatles fan, David performs as singer, rhythm guitarist, and clarinetist in both Beatles “sound-a-like” groups and solo at venues including the FestForBeatlesFans (NJ) and Kent (OH) Beatlefest and has created and presented many talks on The Beatles and their music.
As a musicologist, David writes program notes and gives educational talks for orchestras, wrote the liner notes for the first complete recorded cycle of the symphonies of the noted African American composer William Grant Still for Naxos Records, reviewed CDs for the American Record Guide, and has created and presented many talks including “Beethoven and His Nine Symphonies,” “The Rite of Spring: The Birth of Modern Music,” and “The Marvelous Mr. Mercer.”
David had Musicians Focal Dystonia for 30 years and tried many techniques to resolve it. Working with Ruth Chiles (using Brainspotting) enabled David to finally resolve his focal dystonia. David was subsequently trained and mentored by Ruth in her “Focal Dystonia Cure” process. At Ohio Valley Brainspotting (Brainspotting Focal Dystonia), David works mainly with musicians and athletes worldwide to resolve their dystonia and rediscover the joy of performance (and life). David completed Brainspotting (BSP) Phases 4 and 3 (Dr. David Grand), Phase 2 (Dr. Mark Grixti), Phase 1 (Sue Pinco and Deb Antinori), and specialized BSP trainings, including “Mindful Co-Regulating in Relationships” (Cherie Lindberg) and “From Freeze to Thaw” (Serene Calkins and Mary Jane O’Rourke). David is also a Certified Hypnotist with the Master Hypnotist Society and the National Guild of Hypnotists.
A native of Savannah, GA, David holds a MM with a Double Degree in Clarinet Performance and Music History from the University of Northern Colorado and a BM in Clarinet from Georgia Southern University. His clarinet teachers include legendary Cleveland Orchestra clarinetists Robert Marcellus and Theodore Johnson and their students Mark Nuccio and Bil Jackson. His voice teachers include Tim Culver, Claudia Friedlander, and Heidi Skok. David’s first cousin is the beloved American lyricist, singer, and composer Johnny Mercer.
David can be reached at [email protected]
