Kalman Bloch

Who is Kalman Bloch?

Kalman Bloch was principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for more than 40 years.

He studied with Simeon Bellison, a notable clarinetist for the New York Philharmonic. He left New York for Los Angeles during the Great Depression, after Otto Klemperer, then music director of the Philharmonic.

Bloch also performed on several film soundtracks, including those of Sunset Boulevard, North by Northwest, and The Wizard of Oz.

Bloch was brought before the House Un-American Activities Committee for his and his wife's progressive activities in Southern California after WWII. He refused to name names, instead telling the committee that he "simply believed in humanity." He was refused travel rights for the Philharmonic's world tour that same year.

Bloch taught clarinet at Pomona College and Cal State Fullerton and wrote several books on symphonic repertoire for clarinet. Until his death in 2009 he was an active teacher and member of the Los Feliz Woodwind Ensemble along with famed member of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Bunk Gardner. He also played for conductors Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky upon their move to Los Angeles along with many other artists and intellectuals during Hitler's reign in Europe.