About Rice Clarinet Works
We are clarinetist with many years of performing and clarinet repair experience, so we know exactly how a great instrument should play and feel. This results in a better adjusted, easier to play, and ultimately a better sounding clarinet.
Why Send your Clarinet to Us?
Because we specialize in clarinet, we don’t have to divide our attention and resources among other instruments and projects. Because we have little overhead, we can buy all of the latest materials and tools, and because we are clarinetists, we know exactly how a clarinet should be set-up for players of different skill levels. All of this translates to a better adjusted, easier to play, and ultimately a better sounding clarinet.
If you’re planning on having your clarinet overhauled or restored, consider the fact that our services are the same price or less expensive than others, but include all of the following…
| Repair Service | Rice Clarinet Works | Most Others |
|---|---|---|
| Free choice of pads | cork, leather or synthetic | Not included – usually $50 extra |
| High Tech Materials | Yes | not included/not available |
| Nylon Inserts – Reduce friction and key play | Yes | not included/not available |
| Logo Restoration | Yes | not included/not available |
| Silver Key Polishing | Yes | not included |
| Expert Regulation and Adjustment | Yes – Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance | Most repairmen are not clarinetists |
| Extensive Play Testing |
Wesley Rice
Wesley Rice holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Clarinet Performance and a Master of Music degree from West Virginia University in Clarinet Performance. He was awarded the assistantship for clarinet and aural theory from West Virginia University and the Martha and William Bill Memorial Prize for Woodwinds from the Peabody Institute.
Wesley has been restoring, repairing, and maintaining woodwind instruments, mainly clarinets, since 2003. He has repaired the clarinets of many symphony and freelance clarinetists from across the country and around the world. Wesley has restored clarinets for members of the Navy Band, Naval Academy Band, and Marine Band. He also performs repairs and overhauls for students from The Peabody Conservatory, West Virginia University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Ithaca College, and their surrounding areas.
From 2009 to 2010, Wesley worked with Conn-Selmer (Leblanc) as a professional clarinet tester in Elkhart, Indiana. Currently, Wesley resides in Princess Anne, Maryland, where he runs his clarinet repair/restoration and parts manufacture business full-time.
Josh Snively is a clarinetist, instrument repairman, and composer/producer. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music from the University of Delaware, both for Clarinet Performance.
As a performer, he has traveled across the United States and to Europe. From 2018-2022, he held a Clarinet position in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard Band of the Northeast, serving as Music Librarian and Arranger. His music and productions are featured in web shows, short films, academic recitals, and international conferences with ensembles of all levels.
His instrument repair work started as an internship for his high school’s STEM program, and combined his love for engineering mechanics and music. His work continued through his performance studies, working on instruments for his schools’ music departments and steadily growing his freelance trade.
In his freetime Josh enjoys longboarding, snowboarding, boating, painting, and exploring video game sound design.
Mark Adkins was born in Salisbury, MD and served the U.S. Air Force from 2009 to 2017 where he worked as an Aircraft Hydraulics Journeyman.
During that time he was lucky enough to travel all over the world and was stationed in Oklahoma City, OK, Lakenheath, UK and Clovis, NM. After separating from the Air Force, Mark went on to work at the Delaware Coastal Airport as a Fuel Tank Mechanic for several different types of aircraft. Mark gained valuable communication and organizational skills during his military service as the manager for various programs.
When Mark isn’t at work, he enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors as much as possible. He enjoys fishing, disc golf, and spending time hiking in the woods.
Nicholas Schlie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in clarinet performance from the
University of West Virginia, studying with Dr. John Weigand, where he graduated Magna cum
Laude.
During his time at West Virginia, Nicholas served as a clarinet teaching assistant and
graduate assistant for the university orchestra and was principal clarinetist in the wind
symphony, chamber winds, and orchestra. Schlie performed in the graduate wind quintet,
woodwind trio, and on several occasions with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the
Cincinnati Wind Band. Schlie has performed multiple solo and collaborative recitals throughout the region, and has performed in master classes under acclaimed clarinetists from throughout the country.
Besides clarinet, he enjoys mountain hiking, composing, yoga, river activities, and
collecting records.
Margaret Roe is from Princess Anne, MD and graduated from Salisbury University with Bachelors Degrees each in Marketing and History. She has spent over twenty years in a variety of office support and customer relations roles, including the last nine years as support for a local property management company.
Outside of work, she has a passion for historical reenactment with a special interest in historical dance, in which she has published several articles and books.
Ollie and Dexter Rice
Ollie and Dexter are the resident shop dogs of Rice Clarinet Works. Ollie is eight, and Dexter is seven. They are border collies who love to run, play ball, and look after their chickens.
