See also:
Professor Prohor Fedotov: grandfather, teacher, pioneer
1909-1991, Russia.
Graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory under the legendary clarinetist Sergei Rozanov. Wind band director, Professor at the Nizhny Novgorod State Conservatory.
Like many of his contemporaries, Prohor Fedotov made reeds for himself as well as his students. His workshop setup was minimal and simple: various knives, planes and whetstones. Most important, however, was his knowledge and his talent. These ensured that his reeds were enjoyed by all who played on them. Phohor Fedotov was the first clarinet teacher of Alexey and Sergei, and passed on his passion and knowledge of both the instrument and the craft of reed-making to them.
Alexey Fedotov
Hellmonsoedt , Austria
Early lessons with his grandfather Prohor Fedotov, further education in the Nizhny Novgorod music school with Mark Rovner, at the Nizhny Novgorod State Conservatory under Professor Eugene Titov, mastercourses with Professor Ivan Mozgovenko and finally graduating from the Anton Bruckner Private University with both Bachelors and Masters degrees under the tutelage of Professor Gerald Kraxberger. Alexey Fedotov plays both clarinet and bass clarinet, teaching clarinet and saxophone alongside his role as musical director of the JSTM (Jung St. Marien) wind band.
His knowledge of reed-making began, but did not end, with his grandfather. All of Alexey Fedotov’s teachers passed on their knowledge and skills, allowing him to be able to craft a reed from a piece of cane without the help of machines. However, during his study in Linz under Professor Gerald Kraxberger he also began to use simple, but precise, machines like the BKM 4. When using these machines, important factors are measurement control of the cuts, the development of the cuts and the choice of raw material.
Sergei Fedotov
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Early clarinet lessons with his grandfather Prohor Fedotov, further education with Eugeni Titov in the Nizhny Novgorod music school and at the Nizhny Novgorod State Conservatory. Studies at the Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic High School. Hobby: radio-controlled aircraft and model aircraft. Clarinetist, previously model aircraft and model motor builder. Machine engineer and head of reed-production.
As a clarinet student he won prizes at many different competitions. His first steps into the world of reed-making were accompanied by his grandfather. Later, he successfully built his own precise reed machine. Thanks to his technical studies as well as his talent in that area, he was able to improve on that first machine, fine-tuning for precision. In collaboration with his brother Alexey, he has developed a large range of clarinet and saxophone reeds and is responsible for further production of these reeds using his machines.