Carey Bell

Carey Bell is a faculty member at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), serving as Collegiate Clarinet Contact and teaching courses like Private Lessons and Studio Class. He holds the William R. & Gretchen B. Kimball Chair in the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Clarinet since 2007. His career spans over two decades in the Bay Area, with principal roles in the San Francisco Opera Orchestra (2001–2007) and San Francisco Ballet (2005–2007), alongside collaborations with ensembles like the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.

Education includes a BM from the University of Michigan under Fred Ormand (Clarinet) and composition studies with William Bolcom and Bright Sheng. He participated in summer fellowships at Tanglewood and the Music Academy of the West. His artistic passions extend to photography, art, and gardening, alongside a commitment to music’s societal impact.

Bell’s performances include solo appearances with the San Francisco Symphony, notable chamber collaborations (e.g., Nielsen Concerto with Herbert Blomstedt, Mozart Quintet with Mitsuko Uchida), and advocacy for live music as a transformative experience. His unrealized project is resuming composition, a passion from his youth when his overture was performed by the Oregon Symphony in 1992.

Key career milestones include winning the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra’s principal clarinet position in 1998 and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra role in 2001. He emphasizes mentorship, often quoting, “If you make a mistake, no one dies,” to students.