Clarinetist Keith Lemmons serves as a Presidential Teaching Fellow and the Professor of Clarinet at The University of New Mexico. At UNM since 1984, he has been named Teacher of the Year twice. He combines an international reputation as a sought after soloist, clinician, chamber and orchestral musician with his love of teaching.
Concerts in Sweden, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, as well as throughout the U.S. have all met with rave reviews. “Lemmons had them in ecstasy” wrote El Sol de Mexico City. “Sheer virtuosity” wrote The Clarinet. He was recently a judge for the 2007 International Clarinet Performance Competition in Vancouver. He has a recent 2007 Concerto CD release, with the UNM Wind Symphony on the Summit label. The 2006 CD release of the New Mexico Winds on the Centaur label has been enthusiastically reviewed. Professor Lemmons is a member of the New Mexico Winds, Trio New Mexico and Trio Clarivoce–all artist faculty ensembles-in-residence at UNM. He regularly performs with Santa Fe Pro Musica, New Mexico Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, Serenata of Santa Fe, Taos Chamber Music Group, and the Los Alamos Fuller Lodge Ensemble. His UNM clarinet studio is renowned for its large size with students from Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Many of his students now teach at the college level and play in orchestras and military bands throughout the U.S. His numerous recordings are also found on the AlbuZerkque, UNM, TCMG and Katson Production labels.
Mr. Lemmons' degrees are from Pittsburg State University (KS) with Robert Schott and Michigan State University with Dr. Elsa Ludewig-Verdehre. He also has additional extensive study with Larry Combs (Principal, Chicago Symphony), Charles Neidich (Juilliard School) and Thea King (Principal, English Chamber Orchestra). He is also the proud father of Justin and Megan Lemmons.
