Dennis Strawley

Critically Acclaimed Clarinetist

United States

I can now show up to a performance knowing that I will have something on my mouthpiece that will play beautifully. My practice sessions and performances are now more about making music and not doing what I call the cane reed shuffle, constantly changing your cane reed because it is constantly changing. I have great reeds every time with the Légère Signature Series European cut...Life Simplified.

Dennis Strawley is originally from the Philadelphia, PA area and hails from a family of 7 children, all of whom were musicians. His parents rarely enjoyed a moment of peace and quiet but supported their children in the pursuit of Music and the Arts.
He attended the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia after winning the Cigna Foundation fellowship program. His principal teachers were Ronald Reuben and Donald Montanaro, both of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Dennis made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 17 and received his B.M. from the Curtis Institute of Music. He was the Concertmaster and Principal Clarinetist of The U.S. Army Band and Orchestra “Pershing’s Own” Washington, D.C. and for 18 years he sat on the solo Clarinet stand, the last 7 as Concertmaster. Prior to this he was a member of The United States Army Field Band, Washington, D.C.
He has performed as a Clarinet soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, both the Concert Band and Orchestra of The U.S. Army Band "Pershings's Own" Washington, D.C. and with The United States Army Field Band, Washington, D.C.

During his tenure with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” he was one of the most featured soloists with the Concert Band and Orchestra. Versatile in both classical and jazz genres, he appeared as a soloist on 61 solo performances throughout the United States in venues to include Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, NYC, The Strathmore Music Center, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
He was a featured soloist on the 2004 International Clarinet Association evening of Clarinet Concertos at the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith performing Arts Center, sharing the program with Larry Combs and Ricardo Morales.
In addition to maintaining his private teaching studio, Dennis is an active freelance musician on the East Coast of the United States. Dennis Strawley has performed with numerous ensembles to include: The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Opera Orchestra, The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Ballet, The Wolf Trap Orchestra Washington, D.C., The American Festival Pops Orchestra, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, 1807 and Friends Chamber Ensemble of Philadelphia, the Atlantic Chamber Ensemble and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.
Dennis has performed under the batons of Riccardo Muti, Max Rudolph, William Smith, Charles Dutoit, Otto Werner Mueller, Jack Everly, Scott Terrell and Julien Benichou, among others. His chamber music coaches have included John deLancie, Richard Woodhams, John Minsker, Bernard Garfield, Mason Jones, Shirley Curtiss, Dr. Vladimir Sokoloff and Karen Tuttle.
He has performed in concert or as a soloist in every Continental U.S. State, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and China. And, his clinical teachings have been published in The Instrumentalist magazine.
As a Légère Reeds Endorsing Artist Dennis plays exclusively on Jim Kanter “D” facing mouthpieces and Légère Signature Series European Cut 4.25 Reeds.