Wren Whalen

Wren Whalen (she/her) is a passionate clarinetist and educator whose musical journey began in North Carolina and now flourishes in Tampa, FL, where she is pursuing a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of South Florida. A recent graduate of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WI, Wren has developed a deep appreciation for new music, collaboration in chamber music, and inspiring the next generation of clarinetists. Throughout her collegiate journey, Wren has championed new works, showcasing her talent by premiering composer Bill Ryan’s soulful work “Autumn Dance” at the International Clarinet Association New Music Weekend and commissioning Scott McAllister’s engaging piece “Prelude, Blues, and Grooves.” She has collaborated on challenging chamber music projects, including Kenji Bunch’s “Ralph’s Old Records”, Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet and Paquito D’Rivera’s “Aires Tropicales”. Her standout performances, including an E-flat clarinet solo in Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, earned her rave reviews, with The Lawrentian noting she "...stole the show... She impressively captured both the section’s creepy and playful qualities with impeccable tone quality." Wren has performed at Chicago's Merit School of Music, Juilliard’s Summer Winds program, the Belgian Clarinet Academy in Oostende, Belgium, and the 2024 Sound Atlas Festival in Calgary, Alberta.With every performance and teaching moment, Wren finds endless inspiration in her students, eager to share her love for music and make a lasting impact.