Melissa Frisch, Principal Clarinet

Melissa Frisch is a native St. Louis, Missouri and was appointed Principal Clarinet of the New York City Ballet in 2026. She also performs as the Second and E-flat Clarinetist of the Britt Festival Orchestra. Prior to these roles, she served as Second and E-flat Clarinet in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra from 2025-2026 and Principal Clarinet in the Sarasota Opera Orchestra for its 2025 season. Her first professional engagement was as Second Clarinet with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra from 2023-2025.

Melissa has performed as a guest musician with esteemed ensembles including the Kansas City Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony, and American Youth Symphony.

Among her accolades, Melissa was awarded Second Prize in the 2023 International Clarinet Association Young Artist Competition and First Prize in the 2019 DePaul University Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition.

Melissa holds a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Music from DePaul University. Her principal teachers include Yehuda Gilad, Julie DeRoche, and Stephen Williamson.

Melissa is a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist, playing exclusively on the Tradition and RC models.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys cooking, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her three cats - Biscuit, Beans, and Alice.