bio

Originating from the shores of West Michigan, Amy Zuidema (she/they) is a contemporary bass clarinet specialist, improviser, and composer. Deeply committed to new music, Amy creates and commissions works that explore emotional vulnerability, emotional processes, and the significance of human connection. Central to their practice is a commitment to cultivating emotionally safe, empowering environments that foster innovation—a focus that shapes their work as an educator, arts administrator, and advocate.

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Amy is the recipient of the 2022 Frank Huntington Beebe Grant, enabling their pursuit of a European Master of Music in New Audiences & Innovative Practices at the Prince Claus Conservatorium in Groningen, The Netherlands. A recent graduate, Amy studied contemporary bass clarinet under Fie Schouten, pupil of the late Harry Sparnaay.

Amy has worked directly with artists Evan Ziporyn, Michael Lowenstern, Ken Thomson, Michael Gordon, Mark Stewart, Ernesto Molinari, Shizuyo Oka, Peter Evans, & Rebekah Heller, among others. Amy performed at the Bang on a Can Summer Festival, International Contemporary Ensemble’s Ensemble Evolution, Darmstadter Ferienkurse, & The International Clarinet Association Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Amy has curated and performed recitals as a guest artist at Oberlin Conservatory and Brown University.

Amy has presented their master’s research on cultivating safe, emotionally creative spaces in the arts across the Netherlands, United States, Germany, and Ireland. They strive to amplify underrepresented voices in the arts through an intersectional approach, with a particular focus on their neurodivergent and queer communities.

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From 2021-2022, Amy was a lecturer of music at Ithaca College where they taught clarinet to future educators as well as private lessons. Amy served as a graduate assistant from 2019-2021.

From 2015-2021, Amy served as a clarinetist for the 338th Army Reserve Band out of Detroit Michigan. In this capacity, Amy traveled the U.S. with the military to perform ceremonies and public relations events, including the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Amy was mentioned on the Commandant’s List for graduating top of her class at the Army School of Music in 2016.

Amy graduated from Ithaca College with a M.M. in clarinet performance in 2021 under the instruction of clarinetist Dr. Richard Faria after completing their B.M. at Grand Valley State University studying under Dr. Gary June.