Kristen

Kristen Denny, clarinetist, teacher and composer, has performed as a freelance, chamber and orchestral clarinetist in several venues in the United States and abroad including the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival in Prague, the Fort Smith Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Longmont Symphony, and Colorado Light Opera. Currently the instructor of clarinet for Continuing Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Kristen actively seeks out new and creative ways in which to teach adult beginners while maintaining a studio of students of all ages and levels. As a composer, Fool’s Dance, premiered by the Tulsa Clarinet Quartet at the OU Clarinet Symposium in 2004, was Denny’s first composition to be premiered at a large venue (music available through Luyben Music www.luybenmusic.com or directly through Kristen). Ms. Denny’s passion for chamber music lead her to form a group that performed Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time in 2007 and the group was awarded the Denis Koromzay Chamber Music Award for their successful performances in the Boulder community. In the fall of 2008, Ms. Denny appeared as a guest artist with Gina Harvey, soprano and Alex Benford, piano in the world-famous Spivey Hall performing the hour-long song cycle Orpheus and Euridice by Ricky Ian Gordon. Other honors Denny has received include winner of the University of Tulsa concerto competition and the “Best Should Teach” award from the University of Colorado. Ms. Denny holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Tulsa and a Masters Degree in clarinet performance from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is currently in the process of completing her Doctorate of Music Arts at The University of Colorado at Boulder. Kristen’s teachers include Shannon Scott, Diane Cawein-Barger and Daniel Silver.