Clarinetist Zakyya McClenny is a senior instrumental major at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Zakyya began her studies in the second grade through Play On Philly’s after-school music program. Today, she serves as the Principal Clarinetist of Play on Philly’s Children’s Orchestra. She was admitted to the inaugural roster of Play on Philly’s Marian Anderson Young Artist Program as a Scholar in 2022.
Throughout high school, Zakyya has been a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute (PYOMI) and is currently a clarinetist in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. In 2024, she received the Good Citizens Award and was selected to represent PYOMI at the Philadelphia Union League.
Since 2021, Zakyya has participated in the LA Phil's YOLA National Festival during the summers. and has been invited back again this summer to perform in the Symphony Orchestra and the YOLA National Chamber Music Program. In 2024 and 2025, Zakyya was invited to be a fellow in YOLA’s National Institute and was invited to travel to Bogota, Colombia, on tour with the YOLA Orchestra.
This year, Zakyya was selected as a fellow in the Equity Arc Pathways Program and the Equity Arc Wind Symphony. She was also a 2025 Springboard Grant recipient of the Bruce Montgomery Foundation.
Zakyya will attend the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University this fall as a Music Education Major. She is passionate about using her music to create change in the world, specifically in communities like hers that have been underrepresented in classical music.
10 Questions with Zakyya McClenny:
1. For Play On Philly’s upcoming Jubilee Concert, you will be featured on the world premiere of Autumn Fantasia, the double concerto written by composer Kevin Day. What has it been like to learn a piece that has never been performed before?
It has been an incredible experience to play a piece that has never been performed before. I get to have more of a creative imagination and more freedom while performing it, but also connecting how I play Autumn Fantasia to how the composer imagined it as well.
2. How would you describe the sound of the clarinet?
The clarinet has such a warm sound that can be both bright and bold at times. It also has a deep, rich quality that makes the sound so full.
3. What was one thing about your instrument that surprised you when you started learning to play?
When I first started learning to play the clarinet, I was surprised at how high the clarinet range can go. Just starting on the clarinet and hearing it being played a few times here and there, I figured it would have more of a medium tone range, but while hearing it more, I started to hear high pitches being played on it. That was very surprising to me.
4. What was it like traveling to Bogota with the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles?
Traveling to Bogota with the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles was very memorable for me, as it was my first time traveling out of the country to do something that I love! It was such a wonderful opportunity connecting with other musicians across the country, and was amazing getting to experience a different culture than what I am used to, although I had to adapt to the local cuisine as it was different than what I was used to.
5. Do you have any hidden talents?
A hidden talent that I have is dancing. I love doing different TikTok dance trends. I also have amazing video editing skills.
6. What’s your favorite part about playing clarinet in an orchestra?
My favorite part about playing clarinet in an orchestra is not only playing next to young musicians who love music just as I do, but also being able to learn different skills and techniques from them.
7. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
My favorite thing about Philadelphia is definitely the delicious food.
8. What are you most looking forward to when you begin your studies at the Peabody Institute?
When I begin my studies at the Peabody Institute, I’m most looking forward to becoming more independent and making new friends.
9. What was an impactful experience to you in your musical journey?
An experience that was impactful to me in my musical journey is my first time traveling for music when I was accepted into the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles National Summer Festival. This was impactful because it was a testimony to what I have been dreaming of, which was being able to travel all around the world for music.
10. What advice would you give your 9-year-old self?
Advice I would give my 9-year-old self, who is only two years into playing the clarinet, would be that I’m forever going to have something to learn, so don’t get frustrated or hard on myself if I don’t get something right away.
Zakyya's Recommended Playlist:
