Ron Samuels was appointed 2nd clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra by the eminent conductor Mariss Jansons at the start of the 2001-02 season. He was invited to join the faulty of Duquesne University that same year. Previously, he served as principal clarinetist of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, guest principal clarinetist with the Minnesota Orchestra, and as a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

A native of San Francisco, Ron has enjoyed a richly varied career as a symphonic musician, chamber music and concerto soloist, and as a collegiate professor and master class clinician. He graduated from the University of Southern California where he studied with Mitchell Lurie and where he has frequently returned as a guest lecturer.

In addition to appearances on chamber music and recital series throughout the United States, Ron has been a featured soloist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, the San Diego Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra. He has recorded contemporary chamber music for Opus One Records, Hearts of Space Records, and a solo CD for KOCH International Classics featuring an all-French program and highlighted by the world-premiere recording of an early 19th-century concerto by Charles Duvernoy.

Ron has championed the music of several contemporary composers and has participated in performances, on recordings, and as part of consortiums of several new-work commissions. Among these have been Anthony Iannaccone’s Concertante for clarinet and orchestra for which he gave the American premiere; William Albright’s Quintet for clarinet and strings; John Harbison’s Concerto for oboe, clarinet and orchestra; and three works by David Stock -Sea of Reeds for reed trio, Anasazi Moonlight for clarinet, bassoon and piano, and Klezmer Dreams for flute, clarinet and string quartet.

Currently on the faculty of Duquesne University, Ron has been a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and the Interlochen Arts Academy, and he has given master classes at several schools, including the University of Southern California, Oberlin College, and in Spain, Colombia, Argentina and Chile. During the summer, Ron is on the faculty of the ARIA International Summer Academy, and he has performed in the Robert Marcellus-endowed principal clarinet chair of the Peninsula Music Festival in Fish Creek, Wisconsin and principal clarinet of the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Ron has also been the principal clarinetist of the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Colorado Music Festival and the Santa Fe Opera.