Todd A. Hearn – Multi-Woodwind Artist, Performer, and Educator

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Todd A. Hearn is a seasoned multi-woodwind performer and educator based in Houston, Texas, known for his mastery of clarinet, saxophone, flute, and bassoon. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Todd has brought his musical versatility to the stage in orchestras, jazz ensembles, chamber groups, and well over a hundred theatrical productions across the country.

 

He has performed the live film score performance of An American in Paris with the Houston Symphony, and has appeared in Broadway Across America national tours of Hello, Dolly! and Guys and Dolls. His work in opera includes a standout performance in Stephen Schwartz’s Séance on a Wet Afternoon, in a chamber production presented by Lone Star Lyric with colaborations with Mr. Schwartz. Todd is also a regular presence in Houston’s vibrant musical theater scene, performing with Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), AD Players, and many others.

 

As the principal clarinetist of the Houston Repertoire Ballet Orchestra for over 10 seasons, Todd perfoms for the ensemble’s annual production of The Nutcracker Ballet. His orchestral and ensemble collaborations extend to groups such as the Brazosport Symphony, Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, Cypress Philharmonic, Garden State Philharmonic, The Medical Center Orchestra, Delaware County Symphony, FAME Festival Orchestra, Delware Ballet Company, Newark Symphony, Colgate Symphony, and the Tallowood Orchestra, among many others across the East Coast and Texas.

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Equally at home in jazz and popular music settings, Todd has performed at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, at Wurstfest with Alpenfest, and shared the stage with artists like Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Laura Story, classical crossover quintet Veritas, Grammy winner Alex Meixner, and the Andrews Sisters tribute trio The Swing Dolls along with electro-swing composer and artist Atom Smith. His playing has also been featured as a guest soloist on Kelly Ricketts’ album Hourglass.

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Todd’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Music in Applied Clarinet Performance from the University of Delaware and a Master of Music from Ithaca College, where he studied on full scholarship. While at Ithaca, he served as the clarinet and woodwind assistant and directed jazz lab bands, further broadening his musical scope. He is a three-time finalist and winner of both universities’ concerto competitions, with performances of works by Artie Shaw, Aaron Copland, and Franz Krommer. In 2002, his research on clarinet and guitar repertoire was presented at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest in Stockholm, Sweden.

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As an educator, Todd has taught students of all ages, from young beginners to adult learners. He currently teaches in Tomball ISD and has held previous teaching positions in Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring, and Humble ISDs, as well as on faculty at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia.

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Whether in the concert hall, pit orchestra, recording studio, or classroom, Mr. Hearn brings dedication, versatility, and artistry to every musical endeavor.