Griffin Woodard

Griffin Woodard is a composer, bass clarinetist, and bandleader who believes in the transformative power of music. As an instrumentalist, Woodard’s primary focus is playing the bass clarinet in a jazz context. He has dedicated years of study to acquiring an in-depth understanding of the rich historical lineage of jazz clarinetists and bass clarinetists from Johnny Dodds to Eric Dolphy.

Woodard’s compositions have been performed by a variety of esteemed ensembles and soloists, including the New England Conservatory Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, concert pianist Michelle Cann, and organist Stephen Williams. In 2022, Woodard was awarded the 2022 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award for his piece, “Kyrie.”

As a bandleader, Woodard has released three albums and an EP. Live at the Deer Head Inn is set to release on August 27, 2023. Woodard’s second album Precious One released March 24, 2023 and his debut album Completion released on Oct.14, 2022. His EP, Kyrie released on September 9, 2021. His quartet and quintets have performed at the Deer Head Inn, Wandering Barman, Jazz On Main, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar, The Lafayette Bar, The Bookstore Speakeasy, Oberlin College, An die Musik, and Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.

Woodard earned a B.M. in Jazz Studies with a Composition concentration from Oberlin Conservatory in 2020 and an M.M. in Jazz Composition at New England Conservatory in 2022. He studied with illustrious artists and highly esteemed instructors. Griffin is filled with profound gratitude for the privilege of learning from such inspirational mentors.