Clarinetist KELLI O'CONNOR, a native of Newburgh, NY, began her studies in 1979 with David Newton of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. In 1992 she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH, where she studied with Dr. Alan P. Squire, Principal Clarinet of the Ohio Chamber, Cleveland Ballet and Opera Orchestras. An active member of the Baldwin-Wallace Clarinet Choir, O'Connor was also Principal Clarinet with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra under the direction of Jahja Ling. She attended master classes with John Mack, Leonard Slatkin, and Christoph von Dohnanyi. In 1991, she won the Baldwin-Wallace Concerto Competition performing the "Premiere Rhapsodie" by Claude Debussy.
As a student of Thomas Martin of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, O'Connor attended the New England Conservatory of Music, receiving a Master of Music degree with honors in 1994, as well as winning the school's concerto competition performing the "Five Dance Preludes" by Witold Lutoslawski. While earning her Masters Degree, she attended the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, WY, where she studied with Anthony Gigliotti, formerly of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Burt Hara, of the Minnesota Orchestra.
O'Connor performed with the United States Coast Guard Band from 1995-1999. In 1999, she was appointed to the position of Principal Clarinet of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. Describing her November, 2000, performance of the "Concerto no. 1 in f minor" by Carl Maria von Weber, Milton Moore of the New London Day wrote: "…an individualistic player with plenty of head and heart....the star of the evening….her gorgeous tone and liquid line has made her an invaluable presence".
In addition to her duties with the ECSO, O'Connor is a founding member of the chamber group Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston, a member of the Connecticut Orchestra, and has performed frequently with the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Salt Marsh Opera. In 2002, O'Connor was invited to perform Charles Stanford's "Clarinet Concerto in a minor, op. 80" with the Connecticut Orchestra at Summer Music at Harkness, under the direction of David Lockington. She recently finished a 10-month national tour with the musical production "Fiddler on the Roof". An active clinician, O'Connor directs the Waterford High School Clarinet Choir, which has won many distinctions, including being invited to the 2002 and 2004 Connecticut All-State Conventions as an honor ensemble. In addition to founding the Clarinet Choir in 2000, O'Connor gives private instruction to students from around the New England region.
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