Live @ Foo: Christopher Mothersole

Join us to connect with members of our amazing School of Music and Dance community! Learn about their inspiring stories, the paths they've taken to reach where they are today, and so much more. Snacks will be provided! A conservatory-trained clarinetist with a love of rock and vintage video games, Chris Mothersole is a classical crossover artist and composer pursuing his doctor of musical arts degree at UO. Praised for his “pure, yet colorful tone and amazing technical facility”, Mothersole’s work is at the forefront of clarinet performance with guitar pedal effects in classical music. His music is inspired by video game soundtracks old and new, blending the expressive versatility of the clarinet with the tonal palette of the electric guitar to create sounds rarely explored in the genre. His newest album, Press Start, combines classical composition techniques with the rhythmic gestures and harmonic language of video game music, answering the “What If?” of the possibilities of using pedal effects with classical wind instruments. “On Press Start, certified clarinet rockstar Chris Mothersole serves up a delicious cocktail of heavy metal, ambient drones, 8-bit nostalgia, and good old-fashioned virtuosity. At turns blistering, heartfelt, haunting, and grooving, Press Start is a wild and whimsical musical journey that leads us squarely into the future. Seek it out and play it loud.” --Andy Hudson, Lawrence University Conservatory of Music