Name: Paul Votapek

Instrument:Clarinet

Hometown: East Lansing, MI

At what age did you begin playing your instrument? 10

Who have been your greatest musical influences? Robert Marcellus and Frank Kowalsky, my clarinet teachers at Northwestern University and Florida State University.

Who are your favorite composers? Mozart, Brahms, Prokofiev.

What career path would you have taken had you not chosen music? Engineering or professional baseball announcer.

What's currently playing on your iPod or CD player? Mozart piano concertos.

Your hobbies and interests: Running, chess, the Chicago Cubs.

Some little-known, yet interesting facts about you: I rode my bicycle across the country.

Funniest concert moment:Forgetting my white bow tie on a run out to Port Charlotte and having to make one out of bathroom paper towels. (It didn't look too bad, actually.)

The question you're asked most often about your instrument (and your answer): "How long have you been playing?" My answer: "33 years."

Your favorite part about playing in the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra: All the different repertoire we play. And it is such a good orchestra.