Dr. Jun Qian, Clarinet Choir Conductor
Dr. Jun Qian serves as the director of CRESCENDO – an Elite Clarinet and Saxophone Academy based in Highland Village, Texas. He is the conductor of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Clarinet Choir, principal clarinetist ( the Richard and Helen Ann Shanley Chair) with the Waco Symphony, and guest principal clarinetist of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Renowned for his excellence both as an educator and performer, Dr. Qian has achieved distinguished success in both fields.
Qian made history in 1997 as the first artist to win prizes in both of the International Clarinet Association’s major competitions in the same year—first prize in the Orchestral Excerpts Competition and third prize in the Young Artist Solo Competition. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2001, performing Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 with the Asian American Elite Orchestra. In July 2025, he will appear as a featured soloist and lead the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Clarinet Choir in a performance at the International Clarinet Association Conference in the United States.
A the Crescendo, he is currently training elite pre-college students, ranging from elementary school to adult learners and young professionals at universities worldwide via live and online clarinet and saxophone lessons, classes, and coaching sessions. He is also interested in doing research and teaching middle school students who might have ADD and ADHD symptoms.
Dr. Qian’s high school students have consistently earned top honors, elite positions, and major awards. Their achievements include No. 1 rankings in the 2025 TMEA 6A All-State Bass Clarinet, 2025 TMEA 3A All-State Bb Clarinet, and 2024 TMEA 6A All-State Eb Clarinet. Many have been featured as soloists on NPR’s From the Top, won the Minnesota Orchestra’s Concerto Competition, and received top prizes in International Clarinet Association competitions. They have also secured first chair positions in the TMEA 6A All-State Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Symphonic Band.
In addition, Dr. Qian’s students have served as principal players in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and leading 6A high school bands across Lewisville, Plano, Allen, Coppell, and Frisco ISDs. Many have gone on to receive scholarships from top-tier institutions such as Harvard, Juilliard, the University of Michigan, and more, pursuing both music and non-music majors.
Dr. Jun Qian served as a full-time clarinet professor at St. Olaf College and Baylor University for over 13 years. Under his mentorship, his college students captured both Grand Prizes at the International Clarinet Association’s Orchestral Excerpts Competitions in 2015 and 2016, and were accepted into leading graduate programs and major music festivals. His work has earned outstanding external peer reviews from leaders within the International Clarinet Association.
Dr. Qian holds a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Baylor University, where he studied with Richard Shanley on a full scholarship. He continued at the Eastman School of Music, earning a Master of Music, a Performer’s Certificate, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. While at Eastman, he studied with Kenneth Grant and was the final private student of the legendary Stanley Hasty, also on a full scholarship.
He is the visionary founder of several prominent ensembles and initiatives, including the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Clarinet Choir, the Baylor Clarinet Festival, Virtuosi Chamber Winds, and the Amadeus Youth Clarinet Ensemble.
