Dr. Jana Starling

Biography

Jana Starling is a nationally and internationally recognized Canadian clarinetist and associate professor at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University. She frequently performs as a soloist and collaborates with various ensembles, including the Ironwood Trio, which she co-founded and focuses on expanding the performing literature for clarinet trios. Starling has a keen interest in world music, performing traditional Arabic, Sephardic, and Rembetika music with the local Light East Ensemble. She is an advocate for commissioning and recording new musical works and has collaborated with numerous composers to bring new pieces to life. Her discography includes solo CDs, 'Mythos' (2011) and 'Inflexion' (2006), as well as recordings of contemporary works that highlight her virtuosity. Starling has held academic positions at Arizona State University, Mount Allison University, and as a visiting professor at Brandon University, greatly influencing the next generation of musicians. She received her BMus in music education from Brandon University in 1995 and her MMus and DMA in clarinet performance from Arizona State University in 1997 and 2005, respectively, studying under notable teachers such as Ron Goddard and Robert Spring.

Research Interests