Ava Powell
Clarinet Stories
In late summer, 1951, Avanelle (Hogsett) Powell begged her daddy, Frank Hogsett, for a new clarinet. Avanelle already had a used clarinet but was beginning her freshman year at Pampa High School in Pampa, Texas, and wanted a new clarinet to play in the Pampa Harvester band. Although Frank had a steady job at Cities Service Oil Company in Pampa, he was a man of limited means, and to him, a new clarinet seemed an unnecessary luxury. Besides, it would be mean going into debt, which Frank very rarely did. But Avanelle was insistent and promised her daddy she would be willing to give up Christmas and birthday presents until the horn was paid for.
So Frank gave in and bought his daughter a new LeBlanc clarinet, made in Paris. The horn cost $299.50. After trade-in and cash down, Frank financed $220.00 plus $13.20 "carrying charge," to be paid out in eleven monthly installments of $20 and a final payment of $13.20.
So Frank gave in and bought his daughter a new LeBlanc clarinet, made in Paris. The horn cost $299.50. After trade-in and cash down, Frank financed $220.00 plus $13.20 "carrying charge," to be paid out in eleven monthly installments of $20 and a final payment of $13.20.
During her senior year in 1955, Ava played Weber's Concertino for solo and ensemble contest. Ava was married a month before graduation, and sometimes her new husband, Roger, could convince her to play her solo for him.
David
Ten years later, Ava and Roger's son, David, took up the clarinet when he was in the fourth grade. David played throughout junior high, high school, and college, sometimes playing duets with his mom.
In 1974, during David's senior year in high school, Roger found another clarinet for David to play while Ava's horn was being repaired. David used the new horn throughout college and didn't think to ask for his mom's horn to be returned.
Then in 1990, Frank Hogsett died. Ava's mother, Fern, had died 4 years earlier, so after the service, Ava took her children to say goodbye to the house where she had grown up and where her mother and daddy had lived for over 50 years. Ava was misty-eyed as she stood in the house and recalled all the good memories that were made there. Then, walking out to her car, Ava opened the trunk and, pointing to her clarinet, said to David, "I can't think of a more perfect time or place to return this to you."
Then in 1990, Frank Hogsett died. Ava's mother, Fern, had died 4 years earlier, so after the service, Ava took her children to say goodbye to the house where she had grown up and where her mother and daddy had lived for over 50 years. Ava was misty-eyed as she stood in the house and recalled all the good memories that were made there. Then, walking out to her car, Ava opened the trunk and, pointing to her clarinet, said to David, "I can't think of a more perfect time or place to return this to you."
Jenn
Ava's granddaughter, Jenn, followed in her grandma's footsteps and also played the clarinet in high school. Jenn is front row left, playing in a Christmas concert at Denver's 16th Street Mall in December, 2004.
As of July 8, 2020, Grandma Ava's clarinet is at Jenn's house in Cave Creek, AZ!