Gretchen Roper
Gretchen Roper is in her third season as Second Clarinet with the Charleston Symphony. She has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the National Symphony SMI Festival Orchestra in
Washington D.C., as well as various professional groups in the Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey areas. In addition to her work as a counselor at Oneonta’s Hartwick Summer Music Festival, Gretchen
frequently performed and coached chamber music there.
As an advocate for arts education, Mrs. Roper frequently visits local Charleston schools to work with young clarinetists. She is the adjunct clarinet teacher at the School of the Arts, as well as working
with several schools in Mount Pleasant. She also enjoys teaching a thriving private studio, and coaching chamber ensembles. Her students consistently achieve excellence in local, regional, and state competitions.
Gretchen worked towards a Master of Music degree at the University of Minnesota before winning her position in Charleston. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree, Magna cum Laude, from Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh, PA.
Her primary teachers include
Michael Rusinek, Ron Samuels, and Burt Hara. Gretchen was also one of the last students of the famed clarinetist and pedagogue, David Weber. Gretchen has attended and played in master classes with David Shifrin,
Mark Nuccio, Richard Stoltzman, and Ted Oien.
When she isn’t working, Gretchen enjoys spending time with her husband, John Samuel, and her two cats, Scat and Scooter