Student Bio Kusar

Amelia Kusar is currently a senior in NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, pursuing her Bachelor’s in Clarinet Performance. Amelia is originally from the Chicago area, where she was ranked as one of the top ten high school clarinet/Eb clarinet players in the state. As a member of the Midwest Young Artists’ Symphony Orchestra, she also had the opportunity to perform in Chicago’s Symphony Center, as well as at the Ravinia Festival.

Amelia chose to attend NYU not only for the opportunity to attend a music school housed under a strong academic university, but also for the exciting cultural prospects that New York City has to offer. She was a member of the NYU Wind Ensemble for three years, as both assistant principal clarinet and bass clarinet. She has also played with the Symphony Orchestra for the past three years, playing clarinet, bass clarinet, and Eb clarinet. Amelia has participated in a wide array of chamber ensembles both within and outside of New York University; she performed at Weill Recital Hall as part of the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Program, and has also participated in chamber performances at the Manhattan School of Music. She also regularly takes part in the music school’s film recording sessions, as part of the performance department’s collaboration with the film composition department. Musical theater productions during her college years include Pirates of Penzance, Cabaret, Anything Goes, Once on this Island, and A Little Night Music. Previous teachers include Teresa Reilly, John Bruce Yeh, Esther Lamneck, and Jean Kopperud. Currently, Amelia studies clarinet with Larry Guy and Bass Clarinet with Dennis Smylie.

In addition to her musical endeavors, Amelia continues to excel in academics, making the Dean’s List every semester since her freshman year. She also has a strong interest in the field of Performing Arts Administration. She took an internship during her freshman year at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and has now worked in their public relations office for three years, part-time during the school year, and as their Press Ticket Manager during the summer season.

Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - 35 W. 4th Street, Suite 777 - New York, NY 10012 - (212) 998-5424