Chi-Ju Juliet Lai, clarinet, is an active chamber and orchestral musician, as well as an active pedagogue. A native of Taiwan who later resided in Hong Kong, she came to America at the age of thirteen to pursue her musical studies. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance from Boston University, M.M. from Yale University, and B.M. from Rice University. She also attended Interlochen Arts Academy. Her teachers include Thomas Martin, David Shifrin, Deborah Chodacki, Phillip Rehfeldt, and David Peck.
Miss Lai is currently the clarinetist in Vento Chiaro Wind Quintet and holds the Second/Assistant Clarinet position in Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in performances with many local, national, and international orchestras, including Charleston Symphony Orchestra in South Carolina, Tyrol Symphony Orchestra in Austria, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Cape Symphony Orchestra, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony, Gardner Chamber Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony, and ALEA III. She is a founding member of Boston Octet and Anemoi Quintet. Previously, she was the clarinet professor at University of Rhode Island. She has toured with the United Woodwind Quintet to Japan and was also a member of Xanthos Ensemble, a contemporary chamber ensemble.
Miss Lai is currently on faculty at Phillips Exeter Academy, New England Conservatory Expanded Education, and Bridgewater State University. Since 2012, she has taught and performed at Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
Vento Chiaro
Ona Jonaityte, Flute
Elizabeth England, Oboe
Anne Howarth, Horn
Sam Childers, Bassoon