Bio
Classically trained clarinetist Kaelynn Gomez is a performing artist and successful music scholar from Denver, Colorado. Kaelynn is expected to have earned her Master of Clarinet Performance degree from the University of Northern Colorado by May of 2025. At UNC, Kaelynn Gomez has worked under the direction of Jason Shafer, the principal clarinetist of the Colorado Symphony.
Gomez made her solo debut at UNC with Katie Hughes in the spring of 2024. Kaelynn Gomez and Katie Hughes staged an endearing performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622 and “Lebhaft, leicht” from Robert Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces. In the spring of 2025, Kaelynn will be presenting her master's degree recital with Dr. Keenan Boswell. The recital will feature dreamlike compositions by French composers and women composers. These works are by the likes of Messager, Debussy, Zenobia Powell-Perry and Reena Esmail.
During her time at UNC, Gomez has performed principal roles in the University of Northern Colorado Wind Ensemble. Kaelynn Gomez has performed as principal in chamber groups playing Gounod’s Petite Symphonie and Joseph Horovit’z Fantasia on a Theme of Couperin with musicians from UNC’s Wind Ensemble. Additionally, Kaelynn Gomez performed notably in Titanic the musical, Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt, and at the Western States Honor Orchestra Festival in UNC’s University Symphony Orchestra.
Chamber music has been an important part of Gomez’ performance engagements as well. Kaelynn Gomez has worked under the direction of Timothy Gocklin with Jenna Greene and Zezhong Xiao to produce performances of Saint-Saën's Tarantella, Michael Webster’s arrangements of Bizet’s Jeux d’enfants, Howard Ferguson’s arrangements of R. Schumann’s Three Duos (an obscurity originally written for two pianos). Kaelynn Gomez, Timothy Gocklin and Zezhong Xiao have an upcoming performance of the first movement of Destenay’s Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Piano on December 6th. Kaelynn Gomez will also be travelling to Mexico City on November 11th with UNC’s clarinet choir to perform works by Rossini, Shaver, Holst, Mendelssohn, and Yagisawa.
In the UNC Center for Arts Entrepreneurship (CfAE), Gomez works as the Graduate Assistant. She works closely with Dr. Sarah Off-Fixmer, the Founder and Director of the CfAE, on the Center’s strategic analysis. Through her work with the Center, Gomez helps facilitate events and workshops to provide entrepreneurial programming, career planning, and financial literacy for students in the Performing and Visual Arts College at UNC.
This fall, Gomez became a literary contributor to Denverse Magazine, which is an independent local arts and culture publication. This article highlights local Denver musicians. She has been a part of a monthly radio interview series as well called Denverse on Metro on KGNU’s radio station.
Kaelynn has a bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from Howard University in Washington, D.C. At Howard University, she studied with Ashley Booher, who is the third and bass clarinetist of the Kennedy Center Opera/ Washington National Opera. Here she completed two solo recitals to satisfy the requirements for her degree. Gomez held principal positions for several years in the Howard University Chamber Orchestra and Wind Symphony. Furthermore, she took required studies of Black Music Literature and played works by black composers in ensembles and in her solo repertoire. While living and studying in D.C., Kaelynn Gomez also performed chamber music with the D.C. Strings Workshop.
She has also studied extensively with Chuck Schneider, Kwami Barnett, and Hugh Ragin.
Kaelynn Gomez is an avid concert goer in her spare time. She has private instruction experience, as well as experience working for several years as a substitute teacher.
"Daybreak of Freedom”
A Journey Through Black History”
UNC Bands performance featuring UNC Choirs.
CO All-State Band Festival with UNC Wind Ensemble
“Mozart & More” Recital
Pictured with Alan Kay,
Dr. Wesley Ferreira &
Dr. Jana Starling
at CU Boulder
Small Ensembles Concert
for CO All-State
Band Festival