Raymond Luedeke

Although born in New York City, he spent 29 years as Associate Principal Clarinet with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a position he left in 2010.

A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Ray Luedeke is artistic director of Voice Afire Opera-Cabaret in New York City.

The following year he attended the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, on a Fulbright Grant, studying composition and clarinet.

From 1967 to 1971 Ray Luedeke was a member of the United States Air Force Band, these being the years of the Vietnam War and the draft.

[16][17] While in that position, he won a Canada wide contest to compose an orchestral fanfare that would open Roy Thomson Hall,[18] since 1982 the home of the TSO.