Profile

Sandra McPherson graduated with a Bachelor in Music from CSU, Fresno and a Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance/Musicology from UC Santa Barbara, where she studied clarinet with James Kanter. She performs frequently as principal clarinetist and bass clarinetist in numerous Northern California orchestras, including the Sacramento Philharmonic, Opera, and Choral Society Orchestras. She also has extensive experience as a chamber music performer and coach.

As a member of the Sacramento Philharmonic’s woodwind quintet, she performs educational concerts throughout the region. She has performed with numerous other chamber music ensembles at the Crocker Art Museum Sunday Series, Sacramento State’s Festival of New American Music, Chamber Music Alive!, and the Capital Chamber Players Series.

Ms. McPherson is conductor of clarinet ensembles, rehearsal coach and chamber music instructor for the Sacramento Youth Symphony’s orchestras and Chamber Music Workshops. She maintains an active private teaching studio, is also on the faculty at American River College, and has previously served as clarinet and chamber music instructor at U.C. Davis. Ms. McPherson is also a published author of articles on early-American clarinet literature.