I have worked on all types of woodwind instruments, but clarinet repair is my passion. I am a clarinetist with many years of performing and clarinet repair experience, so I know exactly how a great instrument should play and feel. This results in a better adjusted, easier to play, and ultimately a better sounding clarinet.
About Wesley
Wesley Rice holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Clarinet Performance and a Master of Music degree from West Virginia University in Clarinet Performance. He was awarded the assistantship for clarinet and aural theory from West Virginia University and the Martha and William Bill Memorial Prize for Woodwinds from the Peabody Institute.
Wesley has been restoring, repairing, and maintaining woodwind instruments, mainly clarinets, for over nine years. He is the repairman for many clarinetists at Peabody, WVU, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, and their surrounding areas. He has also repaired the instruments of Steven Barta, Bill Jenken, John Weigand, and Ed Palanker of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and for Doris Hall-Gulati of the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Wesley also receives clarinets from many professionals and amateurs from accross the country, as well as from around the world.
From 2009 to 2010, Wesley worked with Conn-Selmer (Leblanc) as a professional clarinet tester in Elkhart, Indiana. Currently, Wesley resides in Salisbury, Maryland, where he runs his clarinet repair/restoration business full-time.
Why Send your Clarinet to Me?
Because I specialize in clarinet, I don’t have to divide my attention and resources among other instruments and projects. Because I have little overhead, I can buy all of the latest materials and tools, and because I am a clarinetist, I know exactly how a clarinet should be set-up for players of different skill levels. All of this translates to a better adjusted, easier to play, and ultimately a better sounding clarinet.
If you're planning on having your clarinet overhauled or restored, consider the fact that my services are the same price or less expensive than others, but include all of the following...
| Repair Service | Me | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Free choice of pads | cork, leather or synthetic | Not included – usually $50 extra |
| High Tech Materials | Yes | not included/not available |
| Nylon Inserts – Reduce friction and key play | Yes | not included/not available |
| Logo Restoration | Yes | not included/not available |
| Silver Key Polishing | Yes | not included |
| Expert Regulation and Adjustment | Yes - Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance | Most repairmen are not clarinetists |
| Extensive Play Testing |