BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Larkin Sanders (b. 1987) is a vibrant musician, educator, and artist based in Kansas City, Missouri. She is the clarinet instructor at Washburn University and William Jewell College, the owner of The Clever Clarinetist (a specialty clarinet shop), and the Executive-Artistic Director of the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra. A sought-after performer, Dr. Sanders has appeared as a soloist across the United States and internationally, and she regularly collaborates with ensembles such as the Washburn University Faculty Quintet, the Taneycomo Winds, and symphonies in Springfield, Topeka, and Kansas City.
Dedicated to arts advocacy, Dr. Sanders serves on nonprofit boards, including the American Single Reed Summit and the Charlotte House Series. She is a Henri Selmer Paris, Behn, D’Addario & Co., Corbin Clarinet Products, and Silverstein Pro Team Artist.
Beyond performance, Dr. Sanders is an accomplished composer, author, and digital artist. Her compositions, inspired by storytelling, range from chamber operettas to children’s music and have been performed widely. Her artwork, featured by the International Clarinet Association, is showcased in her shop and in musician logos. She is also the author of The Creation of the Taneycomo Festival Orchestra: The Performer’s Field Guide to Music Festival Foundation and The Clever Clarinetist’s Daily Scale Method, used by institutions such as Florida State University.
Dr. Sanders earned her Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance and a certificate in arts administration from Florida State University, where she studied with Dr. Frank Kowalsky and Dr. Deborah Bish and taught clarinet fundamentals to undergraduates. She holds a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas.
A passionate creative, Dr. Sanders is an avid scuba diver and craftswoman, with a love for sewing, furniture rehabilitation, and found object creations. She cherishes time with her family and friends, her Norwegian Forest cat, Miles, and her dog, Miko.
