Chicago Clarinet Ensemble

The Chicago Clarinet Ensemble is in residence at Northeastern Illinois University. Founded by Rose Sperrazza, the ensemble ranges in size from 2 to 35+ players, and has appeared at the Chicago Humanities Festival, Looptopia Chicago, Simpson College, Chicago’s Merit School of Music, the University of Iowa, Clarinet Fest 2012 in Lincoln, Nebraska, in numerous broadcasts on Chicago’s WFMT, and in many outreach concerts. CCE’s impressive roster includes a dynamic collaboration of Chicago’s finest clarinetists as well as talented young students who are incorporated into the group in a mentoring capacity. 

Since its inaugural concert in 2007, the CCE has featured world-renowned soloists such as Stanley and Naomi Drucker, John Bruce Yeh, Larry, Anthony McGill, Charlene Zimmerman, Lawrie Bloom, Steve Cohen, John Hagstrom, and Elsa and Walter Verdehr. The CCE has commissioned over 8 new works for clarinet ensemble.