Sabine Grofmeier bathes in the sound of the clarinet.

“I love the dark and warm sound of the clarinet,” said Grofmeier, a world-class clarinetist.

“When I am playing the clarinet or listening to its music, I’m in a whole different world — a world far away.”

Grofmeier is considered one of the most outstanding artists within her genre.

Those who attend Grofmeier’s concert at Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor tonight will leave knowing why.

Grofmeier’s music takes the audience with her deep into the sounds of the clarinet and forms a connection that that is personal and exciting.

Grofmeier has performed as a soloist in the most prestigious German concert halls and as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher in her native Germany and Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, France and Australia.

For this she is thankful.

“I love to play the clarinet and I love to travel,” she said. “I am so thankful that I can do this. It is very special.”

When Grofmeier was seven years old, she was playing the piano.

“I heard my cousin play the clarinet and it had such a personal and loving sound,” she said.

“I knew I wanted to play the clarinet.”

A year later, Grofmeier stepped into another world, one that was filled with the dark and warm sounds that captured her heart.

“I was fortunate then to play with a band and I played fifth clarinet at first and moved up to first clarinet – about four years,” she said. “When I was 13 and 14, I had the opportunity to come to the United States with an ensemble. We played in Boston and in Rhode Island. It was a wonderful experience. This is my first time back.”

Grofmeier is touring as a soloist but she also enjoys playing with Chamber musicians.

“When you are friends, Chamber music is the most intimate music you can play with others,” she said. “I play with the piano but, when there is no piano, I play with a cello.”

At tonight’s recital at Hawkins, Adams, Long Hall, Grofmeier will play classical music and will be joined on the piano by Maila Springfield, who teaches at Valdosta State University, and on clarinets by Dr. Timothy Phillips, professor of clarinet at Troy University, and Julia Georges, a member of the music faculty at the university.

“I like all kinds of music from Mozart to ‘Moon River,” Grofmeier said and added with a smile that she’s ‘crossing over.’ “I’m not Benny Goodman yet but I’m trying my best.”

While at Troy University, Grofmeier is teaching several masters classes and is encouraging the students to find their own sounds.

“The students must take that one big step,” she said. “They must learn to trust themselves and find their personal way to play, to give each piece their personal interpretation so that the music connects with the heart.”

The Sabine Grofmeier guest artist recital is at 7:30 tonight at Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall on the campus of Troy University. Admission is free and the public is invited.