Meet Clarinetist Dennis Strawley

Dennis Strawley is originally from the Philadelphia, PA area where he attended the Settlement Music School after winning the Cigna Foundation fellowship. His principal teachers were Ronald Reuben and Donald Montanaro, both of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Dennis made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 17 and received his B.M. from the Curtis Institute of Music.

He was the Concertmaster and Principal Clarinetist of The U.S. Army Band and Orchestra “Pershing’s Own” Washington, D.C. Prior to this he was a member of The United States Army Field Band, Washington, D.C.

During his tenure with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” he was one of the most featured soloists with the Concert Band and Orchestra. Versatile in both classical and jazz genres, he appeared as a soloist on 61 solo performances throughout the United States in venues to include Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC, The Strathmore Music Center, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

He was a featured soloist on the International Clarinet Association evening of Clarinet Concertos at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, sharing the program with Larry Combs and Ricardo Morales.

In addition to maintaining his private teaching studio, Dennis is an active freelance musician on the East Coast of the United States. Dennis Strawley has performed with numerous ensembles to include: The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Delaware Symphony, The Delaware Opera, The Harrisburg Symphony, The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Opera Orchestra, The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Ballet, The Wolf Trap Orchestra Washington, D.C., The American Festival Pops Orchestra, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, 1807 and Friends Chamber Ensemble of Philadelphia, the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Opera Society Orchestra, the Reading Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and the South Florida Symphony Orchestra.

Dennis has performed under the batons of Riccardo Muti, Max Rudolph, William Smith, Charles Dutoit, Otto Werner Mueller, Jack Everly, Markus Stenz, Scott Terrell and Julien Benichou, among others. His chamber music coaches have included John deLancie, Richard Woodhams, John Minsker, Bernard Garfield, Donald Montanaro, Mason Jones, Shirley Curtiss, Dr. Vladimir Sokolof, Elanor Sokolof, and Karen Tuttle.

He has performed in concert or as a soloist in every Continental U.S. State, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and China. And, his clinical teachings have been published in The Instrumentalist magazine.

As a Legere Reeds Endorsing Artist Dennis plays exclusively on Jim Kanter “D” facing mouthpieces and Legere Signature Series European Cut 4.25 Reeds.

Soundcloud: Dennis Strawley Soundcloud

Youtube: DSMUSIC1

For more information visit Dennis on Facebook.