Biography

Alec Schantz is an educator, clarinetist, and composer from Northern California. Alec received their Bachelors in Music Education (B.M.E) from San Jose State University where they studied clarinet under Dr. Janet Averett and Jonathan Szin. Alec has also received a certificate of completion from the teaching credential program at California State University Chico, and now studies Composition (M.M) under Dr. Viet Cuong at University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Alec began their compositional career by arranging for chamber groups in high school along with original compositions for their high school band. In undergrad, Alec mainly focused on writing chamber music, premiering pieces such as “Exhale” for clarinet quartet, “Zacramento Soo” for clarinet duet, and “Scaredy Cat” for clarinet nonet. Alec has gone on to write more for the wind band leading to commissions and premiers by groups such as the San Jose State Wind Ensemble, the CMEA Northern-Section Junior High Honor Band, Houston Pride Band, and Butte College Wind Ensemble.

As a performer, Alec has had the pleasure of performing in the All-Northern (NCBA) Honor Band, Honors Band at Carnegie Hall, SJSU Wind Ensemble, SJSU Orchestra, and SJSU Clarinet Choir, Disrupt New Music Ensemble, and UNLV Wind Orchestra. Alec has recieved numerous gold medals and command performances at the California State Solo and Ensemble Festivals, and has gone on to premiere clarinet solo pieces such as Planetfall for Solo Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Electronics.

As an educator, Alec began their career early. Toward the end of their high school career, Alec was giving lessons and taking part in a student internship at Egling Middle School where they got firsthand experience teaching in a K-12 setting. As a university student, Alec had the pleasure of working at Cazadero Music Camp as a woodwinds coach for students of Overfelt High School. Recently, Alec has finished up their student teaching at Chico High School where they taught Jazz Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Marching Band, in which on completion they recieved their California State Teaching Credential.