Dr. Jun Qian, Clarinet Choir Conductor
Dr. Jun Qian is the director of the CRESCENDO- an Elite Clarinet and Saxophone Academy in Highland Village, Texas, the conductor of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Clarinet Choir, the principal clarinetist of the Waco Symphony, and guest principal of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. He has enjoyed great success as an educator and musician.
Qian won first prize in the International Clarinet Association’s Orchestral Excerpts Competition and third prize in its Young Artist Solo Competition in 1997–the first artist in the history of the ICA to receive prizes in both competitions in the same year. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2001, performing Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 with the Asian American Elite Orchestra.
At the Academy, he is currently training elite pre-college students 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.
His high school students have won many honors, positions, and prizes. These include the Minnesota Orchestra’s concerto competition; and International Clarinet Association competitions; first chairs in the Texas Music Educators Association’s 6A All-State Symphony orchestra, 6A All-State Philharmonic Orchestra, and 6A Symphonic Band; the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, 6A high school bands in Lewisville, Plano, Allen, Coppell, and Frisco Independent School Districts; and featured soloist on NPR’s “From the Top” radio show.
Dr. Qian was a full-time clarinet professor at St. Olaf College and Baylor University for over 13 years. His college students won both Grand Prizes in the 2015 and 2016 International Clarinet Association Orchestral Excerpts Competitions and have been selected for study at major festivals and graduate schools. As a result, he has received excellent external peer reviews from International Clarinet Association leaders.
Dr. Jun Qian earned his Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Baylor University, studying under Richard Shanley on a full scholarship. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance, a Performer’s Certificate, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. At Eastman, he studied with Kenneth Grant and was the last private student of the legendary Stanley Hasty, also on a full scholarship. Dr. Qian is the visionary founder of several esteemed ensembles and initiatives, including the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Clarinet Choir, Baylor Clarinet Festival, Virtuosi Chamber Winds, and the Amadeus Youth Clarinet Ensemble.
