Micah Friesen, a private clarinet instructor and freelance clarinetist, finds great joy in both performing and in helping students on their own musical journeys. As a private teacher and chamber coach, he strives to always be patient and practical. He has been called “dedicated, … encouraging, … and reliable” and “a patient instructor” by students.

Also active as a performing musician, Friesen currently performs with the Naperville Winds, gigs in Chicagoland, and has performed as a member of the Wheaton Municipal Band. He has experience performing solo, orchestral, band, and chamber music. His performance of Aaron Copland’s Concerto for Clarinet won the winds and percussion division of the Wheaton College Concerto Competition in 2020, and his chamber ensemble was awarded an honorable mention in the college’s 2022 chamber music competition.

Friesen graduated from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music with a degree in clarinet performance and was awarded numerous music scholarships, including the President’s Honor in Music. While there, he took a number of pedagogy courses and studied clarinet privately with Trevor O’Riordan of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.