Deborah Avery - Solo Artist and Educator

Deborah Avery

Woodwinds

Deborah Avery began her musical studies at age 5, when her father introduced her to the drums. Soon she realized that her talent was in wind instruments and started on the clarinet.  After performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto at age 12, she began her orchestral career in the New York based Empire State Orchestra as the youngest wind player. During this time she performed concertos and standard orchestral repertoire. Deborah received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music in New York and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California.  Her awards include the National Foundation for the Arts competition, Filene Music competition in New York, and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. 

While at Eastman, Deborah premiered a new wind ensemble arrangement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, under the baton of Donald Hunsberger.  Shortly after, she was appointed solo E flat and B flat clarinet on the four week Sony tour of Japan with the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Besides the standard clarinet literature, Deborah has premiered numerous new works for clarinet both in New York and California. In Los Angeles, Deborah was principal clarinet of the American Youth Orchestra under the baton of Mehli Mehta.  In Maestro Mehta’s final performance, Deborah performed as E flat in Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, bass clarinet in Ravel’s La Valse, and principal in Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. Her professors in lessons and masterclasses have included Peter Hadcock, Yehuda Gilad, Anthony Gigliotti, Kenneth Grant, Stanley Hasty, Mitchell Lurie, Hermann Stefanson, and Burt Hara to name a few.

Presently, Deborah is a free lance musician in the Los Angeles area performing all types of music, including musicals, orchestral, church, studio, and jazz. 

Deborah is a member of the Local 47 and Local 7 Professional Musicians Union.