Biography

Kelsi’s professional experience thus far has allowed her to flourish as an orchestral musician. Her recent position as clarinet fellow with the New World Symphony was comprised of intensive daily training where artistry, preparation and professionalism are crucial. She has also performed with the Boston Symphony, Charlotte Symphony and attended multiple summer festivals including the Tanglewood Institute, Aspen Music Festival and Music Academy of the West. While completing her Masters Degree at the University of Southern California she studied privately with one of most influential clarinet professors of all time, Yehuda Gilad. This training led to exciting achievements in her career such as advancing to the finals in multiple auditions and being awarded the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 Plowman Chamber Music competition and finalist in the 2015 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. While living in Los Angeles Kelsi was an active freelancer and recorded for various films, including season two of the Netflix original series chefs table.

As an educator, Kelsi has developed her own curriculum and designed schedules, concert programs, and fostered positive learning environments. Her collegiate level teaching includes her recent employment as adjunct clarinet professor at Miami-Dade College, New World School of the Arts. As a faculty member she taught a studio of clarinet students preparing for professional auditions, juries and school performances.  In the Fall of 2020, Kelsi was invited as guest clarinet professor at the University of Colorado Boulder where she taught lessons and masterclasses to the undergraduate and graduate level clarinet students. She has also worked for the non for profit organization, Education Through Music Los Angeles and in two years designed and executed an entire K-5 music program which provided completely free instruction to the students in an underserved elementary school. She was able to thrive in this environment because of the intense training she had while completing a bachelor's degree in music education from the Eastman School of Music. Kelsi hopes to continue expanding her experience and eventually teach at the collegiate level full time.