Kathleen Jones

Kathleen Jones served as the principal clarinetist of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico) from August 1975 until her retirement in June 2021, completing 42 seasons. Throughout her career, she appeared as a soloist in over a dozen performances, showcasing both standard repertoire and works written expressly for her. Since 1975, she has also been on the faculty at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico (CMPR), an institution accredited by NASM and the Middle States Association. In 1982, she co-founded Camerata Caribe, a piano and wind quintet that remains in residence at CMPR. Kathleen has been a longstanding participant in the Casals Festivals in Puerto Rico since 1977, often performing as principal clarinet and featuring in at least seven chamber concerts, including a notable performance with the Pacifica Quartet.

Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Kathleen studied under Robert Marcellus, Mitchell Lurie, Leon Russianoff, Clark Brody, William McColl, and Raymond Wheeler. She received her Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from the University of Southern California and her Master’s degree from Northwestern University. Between 1977 and 1990, she attended Marcellus Master Classes, where she assisted Dr. Marcellus after he lost his sight. Her training also includes summers at Tanglewood, the Music Academy of the West, and festivals in Claremont, CA, and Sandpoint, ID, as well as seven seasons as a guest artist at the Olympic Music Festival.

Kathleen’s discography includes Caribe Clarinete, a 2008 album of Puerto Rican compositions featuring Voces del Barrio by Alfonso Fuentes, which received a 2009 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Classical Work. She recorded Himie Voxman’s Selected Studies, creating a pedagogical resource. Her recent work includes the 2023 release Meet Lotta Maria Hertlein Riefkohl and a 2020 recording of Roberto Milano’s Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra, dedicated to her. Additionally, several Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra recordings featuring her have been Grammy and Latin Grammy nominees.

A dedicated member of the International Clarinet Association, Kathleen has attended over 25 ClarinetFests, often performing pieces from Puerto Rico and leading the Coro de Clarinetes de Puerto Rico, a clarinet choir of her students. She has contributed articles to The Clarinet magazine, including a piece on Leslie Lopez, the first teacher of Ricardo Morales, and served as a competition judge. As a performer with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, chamber musician, and ClarinetFest participant, she has premiered numerous pieces by Puerto Rican composers, including Alberto Guidobaldi’s Concertino for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra, performed at ClarinetFest 2019.

Kathleen’s performances have drawn praise from critics, including Opera News, which described her as "superb" in Forza aria, and The New York Times, which lauded her as “a serious practitioner of musical art on a high level” following her Carnegie Recital Hall recital in February 1977. Her experiences surviving Hurricanes Hugo, Georges, and Maria have given her a unique appreciation for wind in all forms. More information about her work is available on her website.