Biography

Malena McLaren is the Professor of Clarinet at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.  She received the Bachelor in Music Education and Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance at The University of New Mexico where she studied with Keith Lemmons. Malena has also studied with James Gillespie at the University of North Texas, where she received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance with a minor in Musicology.  She has recorded with the University of New Mexico Chamber Orchestra, the University of North Texas Wind Symphony and has performed in orchestras throughout Mexico and the United Kingdom. As a member of Trio de Llano Malena has performed throughout the US, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, England, and Spain.  She also a core member of the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.

Malena’s scholarly works include two articles in The Clarinet.  In July 2007 she received the second place prize in the International Clarinet Association’s Research Presentation Competition at the ClarinetFest® in Vancouver, Canada.  Malena has performed in solo recitals at the 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014 International ClarinetFest® conferences and as a member of Trio de Llano at the 2009 National Flute Association Conference in New York City and the 2011 ClarinetFest®.  Also in 2011 she received the Magale Endowed Professorship to perform and conduct archival research in Madrid, Spain. She served as Coordinator of the International Clarinet Association Annual Research Presentation Competition from 2014-2016 and was invited to perform and present her research at the 2015 ClarinetFest® in Madrid, Spain and perform at the 2018 ICA ClarinetFest® in Belgium.  Malena is the current Louisiana State Chair for the International Clarinet Association.

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