Clarinetist Ricardo Morales leads first installment of BPO's 2013-14 masterclass series

At 7 p.m. tonight, clarinetist Ricardo Morales will share his knowledge with Western New York students at a masterclass held in the Mary Seaton Room of Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo.

Morales is principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He makes his BPO debut with concerts at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, performing Mozart's only clarinet concerto.

At this masterclass, he will work with several college students who are proficient in clarinet. Matthew Zydel of Elma returned to Western New York from the Crane School of Music to participate. Michael Tumiel of Williamsville is making the trip from Eastman School of Music in Rochester to take part, as is the third performer, Jackie Gillette. Each student submitted an application, which included an audio recording and a recommendation from a teacher. An audience will watch as the students perform and receive feedback from Morales.

The masterclass series was inaugurated last year and is back for a second season. Performance is open to high school, college and graduate-level students, but anyone may attend as an audience member. It is free of charge to attend and perform in the masterclasses.

Other masterclasses being held this season are:

•New York Woodwind Quintet, 5 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 12 (presented in partnership with the Buffalo Chamber Music Society).

•Pianist Simone Dinnerstein, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 (presented in partnership with Denton Cottier Daniels).

•Violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014.

•"Day of Percussion," featuring Colin Currie, Saturday, April 26, 2014 (on the Buffalo State College campus).

•Cellist Roman Mekinulov, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 2014.