First, some classical clarinetists. This list is not all-inclusive. If you would like to add the name of a woman clarinetist (and her location) visit my contact page and send me an email or post a comment.    

Laura Ardan

Principal clarinet, Atlanta Symphony

Michele Zukovsky,  Principal Clarinet

and clarinetist Monica Kaenzig

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Lee Levine

Nashville Symphony Orchestra and the ALIAS Chamber Ensemble

New York City freelancer Eileen Mack

Newspeak Ensemble, Red Light Ensemble, and the all woman band, Victoire. She appears frequently as a soloist in electro-acoustic works.   

San Francisco-based Beth Custer  

Bandleader, clarinet teacher, and  proprietor of BC Records. Performs with Clarinet Thing, the Latin-jazz-rock influenced Doña Luz 30 Besos, and leads The Beth Custer Ensemble.    

Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr

Clarinet soloist, founder of the Verdehr Trio, professor of clarinet at Michigan State University.

                        http://www.verdehr.com/members.htm

Boston-based Diane Heffner 

 Dinosaur Annex and other contemporary music groups

New York-based Esther Lamneck plays clarinet and the Hungarian Tárogató, a single reed woodwind instrument.

A soloist with orchestras, at music festivals worldwide, and   internationally renowned recording artist. Program Director of Woodwind Studies and the Clarinet Studio at New York University

Naomi Drucker 

Director of Hofstra University's American Chamber Ensemble.

A freelancer based in Santa Barbara, CA, Nancy Mathison 

Plays with area orchestras and on numerous chamber music concerts. She teaches music in the public schools.  

European-based Sabine Meyer 

International soloist and recording artist. See Commentary

Boston-based saxophonist Elise Hall

See Commentary for her early 20th century achievements

Montreal-based Lori Freedman

Contrabass, bass, A, B-flat, C and E-flat clarinets

Teaches at McGill University in Montreal; performs written and improvised music with orchestras, chamber ensemble and solo. http://www.lorifreedman.com/en/

Australia-based Nicole Canham

Performing artist: mainstream classical music, chamber music and as collaborator with artists from theatre, film, photography, visual art and dance.  http://www.nicolecanham.com/

   Most women who play jazz clarinet also play saxophone. Here are somewomen who play saxophone of whatever size: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. Those listed first are women who began their careers in the first half of the 20th century, prior to 1950.

Vi Burnside and Roz Cron

     Both played with the

International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Ann Patterson

co-founder of California-based Maiden Voyage

California-based

Vi Redd and Peggy Gilbert  

Fostina Dixon

Below are some contemporary jazz saxophone players. This list is not all-inclusive. If you'd like to add another name, feel free to do so on my comments page! 

Playing sax in Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra are:

Erika von Kleist, Sherel Cassity, Jannell Reichman, Leigh Pilzer and Lisa Parrott.

Alto saxophonist Kit McClure, leads her all-woman Kit McClure Band which 

includes saxophonists Paula Atherton, Jenny Hill, Sheila Cooper, Maria Lazzaro and Claire Daily.

Jane Ira Bloom 

Jane Bunnett,

Sue Terry,

Virginia Mayhew 

Carol Chaikin

Carol Sudhalter

Jean Fineberg

Erica Lindsey 

Lisa Parrott

Grace Kelly,

Diane Wernick

Kathy Halvorson

Laura Dryer

Candy Dulfer

Jane Fair

Mary Fettig

Sonya Jason

Lilly White

Amsterdam-based Tineke Postina plays saxophone in various groups. 

  If I skipped your favorite female clarinet or sax player please go to my Contact page and send me her name!