Professional Bio


I have been active as a musical freelancer and private teacher of classical, jazz, and pop styles in the Northwest Ohio area since 1991. In addition to my work as principal clarinetist of the Adrian (MI) Symphony, I was principal clarinet of the Lima (OH) Symphony Orchestra for nearly 20 years and continue to enjoy engagements with the Toledo Opera, Windsor (ONT) Symphony, and Michigan Opera Theatre. I perform frequently with the Toledo Symphony. 

Chamber work on clarinet includes the Lima Symphony woodwind quintet, Quint Essential Players, and recording with the chamber clarinet ensemble, Toledo Clarinets (eponymous title).  As a saxophonist, I have performed both nationally and internationally and recorded with the saxophone quartet Sax 4th Avenue (Delusions de Grandeur), John Sampen (Shadows and Dawning), and recorded both of Alec Wilder’s Suites for Tenor Saxophone and Strings with The Alec Wilder Project (eponymous title). 

As a woodwind doubler I have worked shows with the national tours of Porgy and Bess, West Side Story, ChicagoEvitaHairsprayThe Producers, Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked (among others), as well as such notable artists as Harry Connick Jr., Ray Charles, Kristin Chenoweth, Aretha Franklin, J.J. Johnson, Joel Grey, Clark Terry, and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé.  My doubling experience has given me the distinct opportunity to perform twice at Carnegie Hall, once on clarinet with the Toledo Symphony in 2011, and the year previously on saxophone for a world-premiere performance of a work for chorus, clarinet, saxophone, and piano, written by my husband, Pete Ford.

Larger ensemble work on saxophone has included the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony, and the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra (Brush Fire, WSG61474).

I teach Saxophone at the University of Toledo and have performance degrees from Bowling Green State University and Indiana State University. My teachers include Ron Samuels, Gene Parker, Mark Kieswetter, John Sampen, and Harry Gee.

YouTube Channel: ShannonFordWoodwinds