Stacia Fortune graduated UHS in 2010. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in clarinet performance from the University of Northern Iowa. While there, she traveled to Brazil with the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra and to Italy twice with the Northern Iowa Wind Symphony – once as a featured soloist. During her time at UNI, she discovered her interest to teach at the post-secondary level and set out to continue her education. She is currently working towards a doctoral degree at the University of Kansas, where she’s working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Clarinet and Band department. She teaches 6 students, part of a woodwind method course, and coordinates all clarinet studio and clarinet choir activities. She recently won a concerto competition in Kansas City with a double concerto (duet), and performed with a full orchestra in January.   Her dissertation will be about clarinet teachers throughout the midwest, with possible expansion to national and international levels.  The next landmark will be to earn a job as a clarinet professor at the college or university level.

Stacia is a tremendous success story exemplifying the notion that “talent” is something developed over time.  She arrived at UHS in the fall of 2006 as a pretty ordinary 9th grader and good contributor.  She worked hard in school, and out of school with her private lesson teacher, practiced – a lot, relentlessly followed her passion, listened to her heart – and not to nay-sayers.  And now… this is what she sounds like.

We are proud to have Stacia as a UHS Alumni!

(Stacia appears at 20 seconds, and a good stretch of music appears at minute -2:25)