What Membership Benefits Does the International Clarinet Association Offer?

Joining the International Clarinet Association (ICA) gives clarinetists and enthusiasts access to a published set of member benefits: the James Gillespie Library, the ICA Resource Library, The Clarinet Journal and The Clarinet [Online], member-only discounts (instrument insurance, liability insurance, RATstands, Tomplay), NAXOS and Forza Excerpts access, and community tools including the Membership Directory and ICA Discussion Forum. These are the benefits the ICA lists for members; exact terms, eligibility, and any access steps are set by the ICA and should be confirmed on clarinet.org before you join.

Publications: The Clarinet Journal and The Clarinet [Online]

The ICA publishes The Clarinet Journal and an online companion, The Clarinet [Online]. Both appear in the site's Publications section, and the journal has its own advertising information for those interested in reaching the clarinet community. For members, these publications are the main way the association shares articles, interviews, and organizational news.

Member Libraries and Archives

The member area lists several research and reference resources:

• ICA James Gillespie Library — a member library resource listed under the member profile area.
• ICA Resource Library — a general resource collection for members.
• ClarinetFest® Program Library and Database — archived festival programs.
• ICA Historic Recording Project — a project preserving historic clarinet recordings.

These are useful if you want reference material, historical recordings, or past festival programs rather than general news.

Member-Only Access: NAXOS and Forza Excerpts

Two access benefits stand out for players and students:

• ICA Member NAXOS Access — streaming access to the Naxos catalog for members.
• ICA Member Forza Excerpts Access — orchestral excerpt resources for members.

Both are listed as member access items, which means they are tied to membership status rather than being open to the public.

Discounts on Instruments, Insurance, and Tools

The member discounts page lists:

If you already pay for instrument insurance or use Tomplay, these discounts may offset part of a membership cost. The site does not publish discount rates or prices, so compare the actual quotes you receive against the membership fee.

Community: Directory, Forum, and Events

Membership connects you to other clarinetists through:

• Membership Directory — find other ICA members.
• ICA Discussion Forum — a member discussion space.
• Member Event Calendar and Lunch and Learn Series — events listed for members.
• ClarinetFest® and LowFest — the association's festivals, with past and upcoming editions listed on the site (for example, ClarinetFest® 2027 in Salt Lake City and LowFest 2027 in Québec City).

The site also lists committees and resources open to the broader community, such as the Health and Wellness resources, Youth Involvement Committee materials, and the Community Clarinet Choir and Repair Technician lists.

How to Decide Whether to Join

Use these conditions to judge fit:

• Join if you want the member-only libraries, NAXOS and Forza access, the journal, and the directory/forum, and you value the insurance or Tomplay discounts.
• Check first if your main interest is a specific event or competition — competition and festival details are published separately, and some events have their own calls and deadlines.
• Confirm terms on the site — the ICA lists these as member benefits but does not publish prices, discount amounts, or full eligibility rules in the material reviewed here. Review the Membership section of clarinet.org for current terms before paying.