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Tiffany Valvo

Tiffany Valvo headshot

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Education

DMA, Eastman School of Music, Clarinet Performance and Literature

MM, Eastman School of Music, Clarinet Performance and Literature

BM, Florida State University, Clarinet Performance

Courses Taught

Expanding Your Digital Presence

Ensembles

American Wild Ensemble

Richmond Symphony

Alla Balena Ensemble

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Sarasota, FL

What is your favorite recording? Why?

Amandine Beyer's Bach Sonatas and Partitas. I just feel like this recording oozes with the musicality and energy I want to play with on the clarinet! 

Who were your major teachers?

Frank Kowalsky, Jon Manasse, Chen Halevi

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Marketing, Farm to Table Food, and pens/stationary!

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

You are not the work you do; you are the person you are. - Toni Morrison 

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

What makes me happy? 

What was a turning point in your career?

Brevard Summer Music Festival, summer of 2005, playing Hebrides Overture. I took a look around and realized I could actually do this as my job, and I was sold. 

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

A life coach, a high school math teacher, or something in marketing! 

What is your unrealized project?

A summer retreat for musicians with lessons, chamber music, classes in self efficacy, wellness, business and everything in between. With really good snacks. 

What do you think makes a concert experience unique?

I think if a performer can connect to audience members in a truly personal way, it is unique and so satisfying for all involved. 

Please list your most important collaborations.

"Collaborating with Ixi Chen to start Digital Clarinet Academy. 

Collaborating with Chris Azzara to revise an aural skills curriculum. 

Collaborating with Daniel Stipe, piano. "

Please provide links to videos and/or online audio.

Biography

Tiffany Valvo is a clarinetist, educator, and entrepreneur on a mission to cultivate the next generation of thriving music professionals. Residing in San Francisco, CA, Tiffany is the Social Media and Digital Content Specialist for Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, she is the Co-Executive Director of the Digital Clarinet Academy, a platform giving clarinetists around the world access to quality clarinet instruction via the online space. A lover of chamber music, she has performed across the US and Mexico with the Alla Balena Ensemble and in multiple projects with the American Wild Ensemble. In the orchestral realm, she’s performed as a soloist with the Richmond Symphony and with the Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.

Formerly, Tiffany was the Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Virginia Commonwealth University (2017–22) and a lecturer of music teaching music theory and aural skills at both Nazareth College and Syracuse University. She holds an MM and a DMA with a minor in pedagogy and an Arts Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and a BM from Florida State University. In 2013-14, she embarked on one of the most rewarding journeys of her life, studying chamber music with Chen Halevi at the Trossingen Hochschule für Musik, Germany. Tiffany has been described as enthusiastic by many and nothing makes her happier than empowering those around her to create the life they imagine for themselves.