Melody Dornfeld

Melody Dornfeld began music lessons on piano at six years old, adding the clarinet five years later.  Growing up in a family of seven children, all who took music lessons, she grew much from an early age in listening to, performing, and teaching music.  She studied clarinet with  Dr. Ramon Kireilis, principal clarinetist of the Colorado Springs Symphony orchestra and professor of clarinet at the University of Denver, through the midst of attending five different schools during her high school years.  Music became an anchor and an avenue of personal expression as she graduated as valedictorian of the final high school and also took first place in the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Young Artists’ Competition, being noted by the Colorado Springs Gazette for “the depth of emotion” with which she played.  Her love of music continued to flourish at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music where she took first place in the Lamont Honors Competition, performing as a soloist with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra.  She was also awarded the Lamont School of Music’s “Junior Recital of the Year” award and named the University of Denver’s 2000-2001 Presser Scholar as the outstanding junior musician of the year.  She placed in numerous other concerto and young artist competitions, in addition to performing as principal clarinetist in various orchestras and ensembles. 

While her classical studies expanded and enhanced her technical skills, Melody yearned for another level of freedom of expression and creativity.  She began studying jazz improvisation at Lamont with Lynn Baker.  During her junior year she attended a klezmer performance given by a clarinetist and made a soul-connection.  “Music of uncontrollable joy fused with irrevocable pathos,” as another musician named Inna Barmash stated, echoing the sounds of Eastern European Yiddish culture.  Feeling an instant and providential connection, she undertook a Partners In Scholarship Research Project titled “The Art of Klezmer Music” where she travelled internationally, attended camps, and studied in New York City with internationally renowned klezmer and jazz clarinetist, David Krakauer.  This project led to the giving of lectures and live performances of klezmer music in the Rocky Mountain region and to the formation of Neo Nigun, a five piece klezmer band.  In 2002 Melody graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Performance as the “Outstanding Senior in Performance.”  She continued her studies after graduation in London, England, undertaking an independent klezmer research project and also studying classically with the renowned and highly-recorded Andrew Marriner, principal clarinetist of the London Symphony Orchestra and of The Academy of St. Martin in the Field.  

Melody has continued to play in many musical ensembles and settings, including recording as a featured soloist on a major soundtrack.  She currently loves practicing, composing, and performing with her husband, Willie, whom she met while studying at the Lamont School of Music, in fusing the sounds of klezmer with modern jazz, rock, and groove into soul expression.  Show less