Amanda McCandless

Amanda McCandless is Professor of Clarinet at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), joining the School of Music faculty in 2008. Her extensive career includes performing recitals nationwide and internationally at venues such as ClarinetFest (Dublin 2024), China Conservatory, and Bolivian National Conservatory of Music. She also served as Interim Associate Dean of UNI's College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences during 2023-24.

McCandless is Second Clarinetist in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra and previously held principal positions in Tulsa Symphony and Ballet Orchestras. Her performance credits include guest soloist roles with orchestras in Brazil and Italy, and participation in major festivals like the University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium and Michigan State University's Clarinet Spectacular.

• Advocate for clarinet works by women and underrepresented composers
• Commissioned new works from Theresa Martin, Rebecca Burkhardt, and Daijana Wallace
• Released two albums of unaccompanied clarinet works by women composers on Mark Records
• Hosts annual UNI Clarinet Choir Day since 2015

In 2022, Dr. McCandless received an Iowa Arts Council grant for educational outreach programs introducing primary and secondary school students to works by marginalized composers.