David Ashton

David Ashton is a clarinetist, multi-woodwind performer, composer, improviser, and educator whose career bridges the worlds of classical music, jazz, and commercial performance. A passionate advocate for the versatility of the clarinet, he performs in settings ranging from symphony halls and chamber ensembles to Broadway orchestra pits and jazz clubs, while maintaining an active career on saxophones, flute, oboe, English horn, bassoon, and other woodwinds.

David serves as Assistant Professor of Woodwinds at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he teaches clarinet, saxophone, and other woodwinds while directing the university's jazz ensembles. He previously taught at Rutgers University, Marywood University, the Juilliard School's Music Advancement Program, and the Manhattan School of Music's Distance Learning Program.

As a performer, David has appeared in Broadway productions including The Music Man, Parade, Beetlejuice, Frozen, Aladdin, and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, and has performed with the Radio City Orchestra. His performances have taken him to Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Birdland Jazz Club, Dizzy's Club, Symphony Space, and numerous international festivals, including Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Kongsberg, and Villard-de-Lans.

As both a performer and composer, David is equally committed to expanding the artistic possibilities of the clarinet. His debut album as a leader, Medium-Well Adjusted, features his original compositions and arrangements, reflecting a musical voice shaped by the precision of classical performance and the creativity of jazz improvisation.

David earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Classical Clarinet Performance from Rutgers University, where he studied with Jessica Phillips and Maureen Hurd. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Jazz Saxophone Performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University.