Hailing from Hamilton, New Jersey, clarinetist Jakob Lenhardt is a first-year Fellow at the New World Symphony. Prior to joining NWS, he appeared with many orchestras around the country, including the Charleston Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, City Music Cleveland and Princeton Symphony. Additionally, he performs regularly with regional orchestras such as the Southwest Michigan Philharmonic, Michigan Philharmonic, Dearborn Symphony and Jackson Symphony.

Mr. Lenhardt has spent two summers performing with the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and most recently was a recipient of a Clarinet Fellowship with the Tanglewood Music Center. His summer music festival experience also includes Clarinet Fellowships with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.

As a chamber musician, Mr. Lenhardt is the recipient of several awards such as second prize at the Briggs Chamber Music Competition. Additionally, he was selected to be a member of a woodwind quintet to participate in the Thy Chamber Music Festival in Thy, Denmark.

Mr. Lenhardt holds a master’s degree in clarinet performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Daniel Gilbert and Chad Burrow, as well as a bachelor’s degree in music education from The College of New Jersey, where he studied with Roger McKinney.

Outside of music, Mr. Lenhardt loves to spend quality time with his friends and family, traveling, great food and even better coffee.