Dr. Stephanie Zelnick
“Stephanie Zelnick is fabulous...bringing her considerable all to focus in a most rewarding performance-hopefully one that will inspire other clarinetists...”-Audiophile Audition
Hailed as “simply sublime” and “exquisite,” Stephanie Zelnick is one of the most dynamic clarinetists of her generation. She has performed as a soloist throughout the United States, Asia, South America, and Europe to great critical acclaim. She is currently associate professor of clarinet at the University of Kansas and principal clarinet of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. She previously held principal clarinet positions in the Central City Opera, Mississippi Symphony, Prague Chamber Symphony, the Colorado Ballet, and the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestras. In addition to her tenured positions, Dr. Zelnick has appeared with various other orchestras including Colorado, Kansas City, Houston, Tallahassee, and Tucson Symphonies, as well as the Johann Strauss Opera in Vienna.
Dr. Zelnick has performed and taught extensively in Italy, France, England, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Costa Rica, Israel, Slovakia, Germany, and most recently at festivals and residencies in Brazil, Lithuania, Serbia, Romania, Colombia, Costa Rica, the UK, and Taiwan. Recent performances and master classes include the Juilliard School, the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the Florida State University, the University of Michigan, and Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Zelnick’s recordings can be heard on the Innova, Accademia del Clarinetto, and Naxos labels, among others. She has released two solo albums, Diaspora and Diversions: the Midcentury Clarinet. She can often be heard on NPR, international media outlets, and has appeared as a soloist on the Dame Myra Hess Series broadcast live on WFMT Chicago.
With Mariam Adam she is a founder of the AdZel Duo, a group that is dedicated to establishing cultural dialogues through music and outreach for students in developing communities. They were most recently featured on the University of Delaware Clarinet Day, the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, ICA ClarinetFests, and at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid.
Dr. Zelnick is a noted scholar and has published numerous reviews and articles for the Clarinet and NACWPI. Her book, The High Altitude Clarinetist, will be published in Fall 2017. She is active in the International Clarinet Association, serving as Wyoming State Chair for the organization, the artistic committee for the 2008 convention, and co-Artistic Director of the ClarinetFest 2016 at the University of Kansas.
Dr. Zelnick previously served on the faculties of the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Wyoming. She received degrees from Rice University, University of Northern Colorado, and the Academy for the Performing Arts in Prague as a Fulbright Scholar. In addition to her performing, She is a member of the National Peer Review Committee for the J. William Fulbright Committee. She is a Buffet Crampon Artist-Clinician.
