Spotlight | Third and Utility Clarinet and Bass Clarinet

John Klinghammer

Third and Utility and Bass Clarinetist with the Kansas City Symphony since 2017, John Klinghammer has also served as acting Associate Principal/E-flat Clarinet for the Kansas City Symphony during the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons, acting Third/Bass Clarinet for the 2015-16 season, and from 2001-2014 had been Assistant Principal/E-flat Clarinet with the Omaha Symphony. Before arriving in Omaha, he served a one-year stint as 2nd/Bass clarinet with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has also been Principal Clarinet of the Des Moines Symphony, bass clarinetist with the Britt Festival Orchestra, and a member of the National Repertory Orchestra. As a chamber musician, John has appeared with the Breckenridge Music Festival, Omaha Chamber Music Society, Vesper Concerts, Tuesday Musical, Monument Piano Trio, Analog Arts Ensemble, Shir Ami, Eko Nova, on the Kansas Symphony’s Happy Hour series and with Art of Elan. John received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he became a member of the USC Scholarship Woodwind Quintet. He spent a year as principal clarinet of the YMF Debut Orchestra of Los Angeles, and in 2000 performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with that orchestra. John has given master classes and recitals at universities across the country, and has been on faculty at the University of South Dakota and the College of Saint Mary. He helped create the Eko Nova new music series in Omaha, and served as its first artistic director. He has also served as a staff conductor with the Omaha Symphony, helping to create and lead some of the orchestra’s many nationally respected educational programs. His many wonderful teachers include Cindi Bartels, Dr. Wayne Bennett, Michael Anderson, Ted Oien, Mitchell Lurie, Michele Zukovsky, and the incomparable Yehuda Gilad. He lives in Brookside with his wife, Kansas City Symphony cellist and gardening savant Maria Crosby.