Laurie Blanchet

Canadian clarinetist Laurie Blanchet joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025 as assistant principal clarinetist. She held positions with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in Indiana USA from 2021 to 2025. Laurie has performed extensively with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2019 and had the privilege to join the 2025 European Tour as 2nd clarinetist performing Mahler Symphonies no. 6 & 7 under the baton of Jaap Van Zweden. She has also performed as guest clarinetist with Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Milwaukee Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Columbus Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec and the New World Symphony. Laurie was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago (the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s training orchestra) and a former military musician with the Canadian Army Forces. She studied at DePaul University in Chicago, McGill University in Montréal, Conservatoire de musique de Québec and Université de Sherbrooke. Her primary teachers include Stephen Williamson, Marie Picard and Nathalie DeGrâce.Laurie performs on Selmer Signature Bb/A Clarinets, Selmer Recital Eb Clarinet and Selmer 67 Privilege Bass Clarinet.Christa Walsh Photography