John Reeks plays clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophones in the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. He is one of the founding members of the Philharmonic and has served three terms as its President. For over 30 years he has held the position of Clarinet Instructor on the faculty of Loyola University New Orleans and he established the university’s Faculty Woodwind Quintet and the Ignatius Saxophone Quartet. He is also a Faculty Member of the Interharmony International Music Festival in Acqui Terme, Italy. John grew up in the “Lower Ninth Ward” of New Orleans in a family filled with generations of musical and graphic artists. He has been a professional orchestral musician for over 50 years. In addition to playing in New Orleans, he has also been a member of the San Antonio Symphony and the orchestras of the Santa Fe and Glimmerglass Operas. He played in the Spike Jones Band when that group was revamped in 1992. In addition to extensive soundtrack work, John has recorded with artists ranging in diversity from Randy Newman to Nine Inch Nails. In 2007 he released a CD featuring new orchestrations of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas entitled Old Wine In New Bottles. John presented the U.S. premiere of Dietrich Erdmann’s Concerto for Bass Clarinet with the Louisiana Philharmonic in February of 2005. He has also performed at numerous ClarinetFests, performing the world premieres of Harold Seletsky’s Klezmer Fantasy, Stephen Dankner’s Adagio Appassionata: New Orleans, and Lines for Bass Clarinet by William O. Smith. John proudly serves as a Yamaha Performing Artist and a Ligaphone Paris Artist. He is married to fellow clarinetist Stephanie Thompson.