MinnOrch Fellow Reflections: Olivia Hamilton

This summer the Minnesota Orchestra bid farewell to a pair of participants in its Fellowship program as their two-year tenures in the ensemble came to a conclusion. Clarinetist Olivia Hamilton and trombone player Felix Regalado, both of whom are graduates of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, joined the Orchestra in fall 2023, becoming the seventh and eighth participants in the Fellowship program since its establishment in 2017. The Fellowship is a two-year residency for emerging professional orchestral musicians from diverse backgrounds early in their careers, and is generously supported by Rosemary and David Good, and Margee and Will Bracken.

Over the course of the Fellowship, Hamilton and Regalado performed as part of the Orchestra at various concerts while also preparing for and taking auditions at orchestras across the country. In addition, they worked with Minnesota students, families and community partners on a variety of initiatives through the Orchestra’s Education and Community Engagement department. Audiences also came to know them through occasional appearances on the Orchestra’s social media outlets.

Hamilton, who is originally from Texas, names several highlights from her Fellowship experience—one of which involved a contemporary piece scored with three clarinet parts. “Last season, we performed the Concerto for Orchestra by Kevin Puts and I played Clarinet 3,” she recalls. “During this week, I witnessed David Pharris play Clarinet 2 while also playing in the section. I think it was one of the most informative moments during my time with the Orchestra. In school, we tend to focus on many aspects of principal playing and it’s less common to learn about playing second. Hearing this skill up-close in the Orchestra changed my perspective on second clarinet playing and showed me how much musical input the second player really has.”

As her time with the Minnesota Orchestra comes to an end, Hamilton has already secured new positions in other ensembles. “This summer, I was awarded tenure with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra where I have played Second/E-flat clarinet for the last two summers,” she says. “I will also begin performing as the Principal Clarinetist of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. I’m often traveling and performing with orchestras across the country so I look forward to doing more!” Earlier in her career Hamilton was a clarinetist with The Orchestra Now at Bard College, was selected as one of the clarinet fellows at the renowned Spoleto Festival USA, performed regularly with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and was invited to perform with the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors Orchestra, among other roles and opportunities.

In closing, Hamilton expresses her appreciation for the Minnesota Orchestra’s clarinetists: “The clarinet section is incredibly supportive! They’ve all been where I am and understand what I need to get to the next step of my career. They are also incredibly funny and wonderful story-tellers. So it’s been a gift to get to know them all more!”

Please join us in wishing Olivia all the best as her orchestral career continues!