Patricia Grden

Clarinet

Principal

I started playing clarinet when I was in fifth grade at Brentwood school district. I participated in anything and everything that had to do with music. I loved music so much! Following high school, I attended Clarion State College in Clarion, Pennsylvania. I graduated with a music education degree and began my teaching career. Now that I’m retired, after 45 years of being an instrumental music teacher at both private and public schools, I am teaching woodwinds privately in my home studio. From 1987 through 2020, I was principal clarinet with the Community Band South, a local community band in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, PA.  I joined the Washington Symphony  Orchestra in 2005 as 2nd clarinet, and in 2021, I became the principal clarinet with the WSO. I love this position and I love being in the WSO. The music, the people, the organization itself are all reasons for this. I especially enjoy playing under Yugo Ikach, the music director and conductor of the WSO. I hope to be a vital part of this orchestra for many years to come.