Paul Votapek, Principal Clarinet

Paul Votapek, principal clarinet, was chosen by former Music Director Christopher Seaman as principal clarinetist in 1996. He has appeared as a soloist with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra on five occasions and has also performed as principal clarinet with the Utah Symphony and Boston Esplanade Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Keith Lockhart.

In 2004, he performed at the Pine Mountain Music Festival in Michigan with his father Ralph Votapek and Concertmaster Glenn Basham. In the summers of 2005 and 2006, he performed and was on the faculty at the Marrowstone Music Festival in Bellingham, Wash. He also performed with the Kairos String Quartet at the Kairos Music Festival in Ellensburg, Wash. Recently Votapek and his father released a recording of the Concert and Contest Collection for Clarinet, a noted book of solo literature for student clarinetists.

Votapek received his bachelor’s and master's degrees from Northwestern University where he studied with Clark Brody and Robert Marcellus. He completed doctoral classes and recitals at Florida State University, where he studied with Frank Kowalsky. He is currently an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University. Votapek has been a member of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra since 1988.

Paul Votapek is underwritten by
Louise & Henry Leander.