KATIA SOFIA WAXMAN

Bio

Chicago native Katia Sofia Waxman is a clarinetist and arts educator establishing a reputation for innovative programming and bold interpretations. Equally at home with music new and old, Katia enjoys a diverse musical life of solo, small, and large ensemble playing. 

An avid chamber musician, Katia has appeared with the Newport String Project, members of Decoda, and the Green Room Ensemble. She has garnered awards from the M-Prize, Discover, and Barnett chamber music competitions. She has also deepened her love for small ensemble playing through annual studies at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music (NH).

As an orchestral player, Katia has appeared at major international halls, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall, Chicago’s Symphony Center, Prague’s Rudolfinum, Budapest’s Bela Bartok Hall, and Bogota’s Teatro Mayor. She has performed under the baton of renowned conductors, including Marin Alsop, Giancarlo Guerrero, Riccardo Muti, David Robertson, and Xian Zhang. She has appeared with the American Ballet Theater Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and held the position of acting second clarinet with the Sarasota Opera during the 2024 Season. 

Katia has appeared in recitals at the Newport String Project’s (RI) One-to-One Concerts, the Hebrew Congregation of Chautauqua (NY), and in collaboration with Thresh Dance Company at the Flea Theater in New York City. 

Recent festival appearances include fellowships at the Music Academy of the West and Bowdoin International Music Festival. Additionally, Katia has appeared at the Chautauqua Institution, Brevard Music Center, and the Decoda Chamber Music Festival. 

Committed to shaping a more diverse and equitable classical music landscape, Katia was selected to participate in the pilot class of Oberlin Conservatory’s Music Leadership Career Community. She also held a teaching fellowship with Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program, a tuition-free pre-college program for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.

Katia received a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Jon Manasse. She also holds a B.A. in economics and a B.M. in clarinet performance from Oberlin College & Conservatory, where she studied with Richard Hawkins. 

Beginning in Fall 2025, Katia joins the full-time faculty of the Interlochen Arts Academy as Instructor of Clarinet.