ClarinetFest 2026 Incheon: ICA Clarinet Festival Experience & Report | Fujiyama Clarinet Studio
- Jul 31
- 7 min read
In July 2026, I attended the International Clarinet Association (ICA) Clarinet Festival in Korea 2026.
ClarinetFest is one of the most important international events for clarinetists, educators, researchers, students, and clarinet lovers from around the world. Each summer, the festival brings together performers and participants from many countries. In 2026, it was held in Korea, and the 2027 festival is scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For me, this festival was more than a musical event. It was a deeply personal and meaningful experience.
My Personal Connection with the ICA
When I studied in the United States in the 1990s, my teacher was serving as president of the International Clarinet Association. During that time, we traveled by car to Chicago with a large clarinet ensemble from my university to perform at ClarinetFest. I still remember staying at a motel together with the other students and sharing the excitement of being part of such a large clarinet event.
Recently, while looking through the history page on the ICA website, I was surprised to find myself in one of the black-and-white photos from that time. The following year, I won second prize in the Young Artist Competition at ClarinetFest in Arizona.
Because of those memories, the ICA and ClarinetFest have always held a special place in my heart.
Over the decades, the ICA has continued to evolve, creating more opportunities for clarinet enthusiasts around the world to participate. Since the pandemic, many events have also become accessible online, making it easier to stay connected even from Japan.
That is why being able to attend ClarinetFest in Asia this year was a great joy for me.
Traveling to Songdo, Incheon
The flight from Fukuoka to Incheon took about one hour and ten minutes. Incheon Airport was spacious, clean, and easy to navigate.
From the airport, I took a taxi to my accommodation. It took about 30 minutes. By airport bus, it would have taken a little over an hour, and by subway, more than an hour and a half. I showed the driver the address written in Korean, which made the taxi ride smooth.
I stayed in a high-rise apartment around the area of Songdo Convensia, the festival venue. There was a convenience store on the first floor, and several cafés nearby, so it was a very convenient location.
On the first evening, I found a small poke bowl restaurant nearby and had a healthy dinner. Later, I discovered an unmanned ice cream shop and brought some ice cream back to the apartment. Those small travel moments also became part of the memory.
Getting Around with NAVER Map and T-money
For transportation in Korea, NAVER Map was extremely helpful. It showed routes, travel times, and bus information clearly, which made it much easier to move around.
I bought a T-money transportation card at a convenience store, charged it, and used it to take the bus. Bus stops displayed route and arrival information, so I did not have much trouble finding my way.
NAVER Map also notified me when I was approaching my destination. After passing the stop before mine, I could press the STOP button and prepare to get off.
One thing to remember: buses in Korea can start very quickly after you board. It is best to hold onto a handrail right away. You tap the card when getting on and again when getting off. The buses I used boarded from the front and exited from the back.
Arriving at Songdo Convensia
The morning of July 8 was stormy weather. I hurried to get ready so that I could arrive at the venue by 7:30 a.m., then took the bus through the heavy rain.
The venue, Songdo Convensia in Incheon, was modern, spacious, and well suited for an international festival.
ICA Support and Organization
Before the festival, the ICA provided helpful support for international participants traveling to Korea. They shared YouTube Shorts explaining how to get from the airport to the venue and how to use transportation cards.
The festival schedule was also available through an online app. When there were sudden schedule changes, the updates appeared quickly and notifications were sent out. For participants visiting from abroad, this was very helpful.
I was also happy to reunite with Jessica, the Executive Director of the ICA. A few years ago, I interviewed her online for my blog, and this was our first time meeting again since then. Jessica loves Korea and moved there with her husband a few months before the festival.
In ICA online events, I have always admired her efficient leadership and warm facilitation. At this festival as well, I could feel how carefully everything had been prepared.
ClarinetFest volunteer experience
This time, I wanted to support the ICA, so I joined as a volunteer.
I spent several hours helping at the registration desk, and it was a very enjoyable experience. Through volunteering, I had the chance to talk with people from Europe, the United States, Australia, and many other places.
Some volunteers had once been competition winners. Others were planning to visit Japan after the festival. I was also happy to meet participants from Japan. It reminded me once again how the clarinet can connect people across countries and generations.
Performances I Heard at the ICA Clarinet Festival
The headliner concerts featured outstanding performers and legendary clarinetists. I was also very happy to see Japanese artists performing actively at the festival. In addition to concerts, I also attended clarinet masterclasses at the festival.
Yoonah Kim is a clarinetist born in Seoul and raised in Canada. She studied at The Juilliard School
and won the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. She is internationally active as a soloist and chamber musician.
Her performance of Spohr’s Fantasy and Variations on a Theme of Danzi was impressive. She made the difficult technical passages sound effortless, sometimes gentle and sometimes powerful. Her whole body seemed to speak through the music.
Joë Christophe is a French clarinetist who studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de
Musique de Paris. In 2019, he won first prize at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, along with several special prizes. He is one of the leading young clarinetists of his generation.
He performed movements from Weber’s Clarinet Quintet in B-flat major, Op. 34. His delicate control in the slow movement and brilliant energy in the final movement were outstanding. He led the string players beautifully and gave a wonderful performance of Weber.
István Kohán is a Hungarian clarinetist and composer based in Japan. He has received prizes at
competitions including the Tokyo Music Competition and the Music Competition of Japan. He is active as a performer, composer, and educator, and is also known for music influenced by Hungarian and klezmer traditions.
He is very well known in Japan, and I had often seen his performances on YouTube. I was very happy to hear him live.
Michael Collins is one of the most respected British clarinetists and conductors. He has had an international career as a soloist and chamber musician and is also highly regarded as a conductor.
For me, hearing him live was very moving. I had listened to his recordings for many years, so it felt special to experience his performance in person. His Mozart Clarinet Quintet was elegant, stable, and full of refined musicality.
Philippe Cuper is a leading French clarinetist who served for many years as principal clarinetist of the Paris Opera Orchestra. He is internationally respected as a soloist, teacher, and representative of the French clarinet tradition.
I attended his masterclass and performance. He is truly a legend. Listening to him reminded me of the recordings I used to enjoy, especially his recording including Françaix. His performance carried the unmistakable elegance and fragrance of the French school.
Listening to so many different clarinet sounds and musical styles from around the world is one of the great joys of ClarinetFest.
A Memorable Performance by Dream With Ensemble
One of the most memorable performances for me was by the Korean group “Dream With Ensemble” on the afternoon of July 9.
This ensemble includes performers with intellectual disabilities and other challenges. Their teacher introduced the group’s activities in Korean, with English interpretation, so the audience could understand their background and mission.
The joy they showed while performing reached the audience directly. It was a warm and moving moment. Their performance reminded me that music is a powerful way to connect people and share the joy of expression.
Reunions and New Connections
This festival also brought many meaningful reunions.
I met friends from my student days in the United States, reconnected with fellow alumni, and saw the continued work of friends involved in clarinet and instrument making.
Tasha Warren is a friend from my time at Indiana University. We even shared a house for a period of time. At this festival, she performed with her husband Guy Yehuda as the Adama Quartet, and their performance was powerful and exciting.She also served as a final-round jury member for the Young Artist Competition, which was held alongside the festival.
Yuan Gao of Royal Global, whose products are now chosen by many professional clarinetists, is also a friend from my Boston days. Seeing friends continue to contribute to the clarinet world in their own ways after so many years was deeply inspiring.
The memories of ClarinetFest from my student days in the United States and my experience attending the festival now in Asia came together in a very emotional way.
Through the clarinet, old connections continued, and new encounters were born.
Final Thoughts
ClarinetFest 2026 in Incheon was not only a chance to hear wonderful performances. It was also an opportunity to volunteer, meet clarinetists and music lovers from around the world, and reconnect with the international clarinet community.
This trip reminded me once again how widely the clarinet can open the world and how deeply music can connect people.
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