Surya Krishnan, 16, is an accomplished clarinetist with a deep passion for classical music and performance. He has studied clarinet for several years and was a student in the Juilliard Music Advancement Program (MAP), where he has served as Principal Clarinetist and Wind Ensemble Concertmaster for two years. Under the mentorship of Anton Rist, Principal Clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Surya has performed featured solos accompanied by a full orchestra and honed a refined, expressive style.
Surya’s dedication to his craft has earned him numerous honors, including the 2025 Award for Excellence in Music from POB JFK High School. He was twice selected for the highly competitive Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival, receiving full-merit scholarships to perform in Los Angeles in 2022 and 2023.
He also participated in USDAN Summer Camp for the Arts, where he majored in clarinet and minored in chess. Over four summers, he was awarded multiple full-tuition merit scholarships, including the MAP Scholarship and Uniquely U Scholarships.
Watch Surya Rajmani Krishnan perform Duo for Piano and Clarinet, Op. 15 by Norbert Burgmuller on the clarinet for the 2025 Summer Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.