A native Long Islander, Heather’s path as a musician has taken her to stages across the world.
Heather is a clarinetist with an exciting and evolving career as a performer and educator. An active freelancer in the NYC metro area on E-flat and bass clarinet, Heather has performed internationally in Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands, most recently premiering new works for bass clarinet at Nova Scotia’s LampNOW concert series. This season (November 2023), she will appear as a soloist with the West Islip Symphony Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.
After graduating magna cum laude from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Heather lived in Brussels, Belgium, where she studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, finishing three diplomas in clarinet performance (BA, MA, postgraduate certificate) “with distinction.” She has studied under Benjamin Dieltjens (principal clarinetist, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra), David Van Maele (E-flat clarinetist, The Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides), and Laurie Friedman-Adler (founder, Hevreh Ensemble).
In Europe, Heather appeared live on Belgian television and radio at Flagey Cultural Center with the RTBF Musiq’3 Festival Orchestra. She directed and performed a chamber orchestra setting of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and premiered solo and chamber works by contemporary composers. She performed as principal clarinetist with the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Orchestra and as E-flat clarinetist with the Royal Conservatory of Brussels Wind Band.
In New York, Heather plays in symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, pit orchestras, recording studios, and as a solo recitalist. She has premiered works with the New York International Virtuosi Orchestra and the Staten Island Philharmonic on both bass clarinet and E-flat clarinet, and has appeared as principal clarinetist with Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and the Massapequa Philharmonic. She can be heard on the 2022 recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony for Recursive Classics, and in the horror-musical podcast “Rocking Chair,” from Scantic River Productions. Her pit orchestra work has been heard at Studio Theater of Long Island, and in 2022 she toured with the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra, specializing in cucumber.
Heather is a passionate and dedicated music educator. A private clarinet teacher for more than 15 years, her students regularly find success in college auditions into top music schools and in competitions and festivals. She presents workshops and clinics, and has worked as a clarinet specialist for early childhood programs, introducing students and families to the clarinet.
When she’s not playing clarinet, Heather can be found exploring Long Island’s nature preserves and historic homes, taking photos of animals and interesting trees.
