Oklahoma City University : Bass School of Music

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Bradford Behn
Assistant Professor of Clarinet

Email: blbehn@okcu.edu
Phone: (405) 208-5314
Office: A329

Bradford Behn is principal clarinetist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and previously held positions with the Tulsa Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony, Fort Collins Symphony, and the Savannah Symphony. Bradford has also performed extensively with orchestras around the country, including Baltimore, Salt Lake City, Denver, Birmingham, San Antonio, Boulder, Greeley, Cheyenne, Colorado Springs, Hilton Head, and Charleston.

Bradford received both his Bachelor and Master degrees in clarinet performance at Northwestern University, under former Cleveland Orchestra clarinetist Robert Marcellus' instruction.

Before coming to OCU, Bradford was clarinet instructor at the University of Northern Colorado and earned additional experience as sabbatical replacement at the University of Colorado, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Oklahoma.

In addition to his teaching and performance life, Brad has become an expert on mouthpiece acoustics and design. In February 2010, Behn earned a patent for a mouthpiece, which enhances acoustics through airflow refinements, and improves the ergonomic interface of the clarinet angle in relation to the player's body. His international mouthpiece customization service has introduced him to many of the finest clarinetists around the world, and through close collaboration, Brad has had the unique opportunity to experience the many different ways in which clarinetists approach their pedagogy, conceive their sound, and craft their artistry.