Clarinetist Jake Meyer is a performer and teacher in the Twin Cities and has been the principal clarinetist of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra since 2016. He has performed with the Round Top Music Festival, the Northern Lights Music Festival, the Lied Society, and many other local groups and venues. He has toured the United States and Europe extensively with the St. Olaf Orchestra and Band, and was a featured soloist with the St. Olaf Orchestra after winning the Tour Soloist and Senior Soloist competitions.
Jake believes in performing the works of living and underrepresented composers and crafts concert programs to inspire dialogue and social change. Jake strives to make his musical performances a community affair; he has performed many livestreamed and outdoor concerts throughout the Covid shutdown and has recorded and shared clarinet quartet versions of pop songs on social media. He has performed in many local chamber ensembles, appeared at the Madeline Island Music Festival, and won “Best of Chamber Music” at the Round Top Music Festival. He also served as principal clarinet of the FSU Chamber Winds and performed with the FSU Graduate Wind Quintet in a master class led by the New York Philharmonic Wind Quintet.
As a private instructor, Jake has worked with students of all ages and abilities. He maintains a large studio in the Twin Cities and is a regular clinician with local band programs. He has successfully coached students to positions in the Minnesota and Florida All-State Bands, the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, and music degrees and scholarships at St. Olaf College, UW – Eau Claire, and Concordia College – Moorhead. Jake has taught at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN, the Music for the Sake of Music community summer camp in Green Bay, WI, and served as a teaching assistant while earning his Master’s degree. He has also written a health and wellness guide to help musicians understand the physical and mental challenges they encounter on a daily basis.
Jake has appeared in the master classes of Richie Hawley, Burt Hara, Dan Gilbert, Corrado Giuffredi, Mark Nuccio, and members of the New York Philharmonic. An elected member of the national music honors society Phi Kappa Lambda, he has won both of the St. Olaf Orchestra concerto competitions, and was a finalist for the Schubert Club, La Grange Symphony Orchestra, and FSU Young Artist competitions.
Jake holds his Bachelor’s of Music from St. Olaf College and his Master’s of Music from Florida State University. His primary teachers include Scott Anderson, Deborah Bish, Jonathan Holden, Nina Olsen, Greg Williams, and pedagogue Burton Kaplan. Away from the clarinet, Jake enjoys reading, swimming, exploring sustainable living, and getting involved in his local St. Paul community.
Jake Meyer, Clarinet 