Zenta Henkhuzens, second clarinet
- What do you do for a living?
- I'm a civil servant. I lead a team responsible for national education policy concerning deprived children.
- Tell us a little about the instrument you play? Do you play any other instrument?
- I play the clarinet. There are several members of the clarinet family ranging from the very large contrabass to the high pitched E flat although these 'extras' tend not to be played as often as the standard B flat and A instruments. The name clarinet derives from the Italian word clarino, meaning trumpet and the suffix et meaning little. The early clarinets had a tone similar to that of the trumpet. I also play flute and piano.
- When did you start your musical education?
- I was six years old. I learnt to read music on the recorder at primary school. The headmistress was a music teacher and everyone learnt the recorder for a year. I started the clarinet three years later.
- How long have you been with the CCO?
- I played in the inaugural concert in October 1995.
- What has been your favourite CCO concert?
- Brahms 3, in 2008: Alan was moved to tears.
- Which piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
- I adore Brahms, both his orchestral symphonies and solo works for piano and clarinet. I also enjoy playing wind octets.
- If you could take a recording of one piece of music to a desert island, what would it be?
- Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony: it humbles me.
- Who are your musical heroes?
- Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Glenn Gould, Bernard Haitink.
- When was the last time you attended a concert as one of the audience?
- The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Proms with their new Latvian Musical Director Andris Nelsons – sublime.
- What do you listen to in the car?
- A mixture of classical and rock depending on my mood. Sheryl Crow on the motorway!
- What are your other interests?
- I love cooking and eating out, cocktails, galleries, singing, dancing, and travel.