Dr. Laura Stoutenborough

B.M. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
M.M. University of Southern California
D.M.A. University of Southern California

Email Dr. Stoutenborough at lstoutenborough@mtsac.edu 

Laura Stoutenborough is an orchestral clarinetist, recording artist, and teacher in the Los Angeles area. She has performed with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Santa Barbara Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Opera Santa Barbara, New West Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, and the Long Beach Opera. Laura has performed in over 40 operas and ballets with the Los Angeles Opera. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Laura has performed in numerous concerts conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, featuring soloists such as Joshua Bell and Emanuel Ax; the Green Umbrella Series; Symphonies for Youth; and concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. In film and television, her credits include Disclosure Day, Toy Story 5, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, Only Murders in the Building, The Gilded Age, Ahsoka, Willow, Merry Little Batman, and The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. In 2010, she won the Principal Clarinet position of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and performed for three seasons. With the TSO, she made her solo debut performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto five times in four days.

A passionate teacher, Laura joined the California State University, Northridge faculty in 2026. She is also the adjunct clarinet professor at Occidental College and Mt. San Antonio College.  She has been teaching at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music since 2016. Every summer, Laura teaches at the Pasadena Conservatory Clarinet Camp, which she co-created in 2017. She has given masterclasses as a guest artist at California State University, Fresno, for the Tucson Symphony, the University of Minnesota, and at Waldorf College. 

Laura received her Doctoral and Master of Music degrees from the University of Southern California, studying with Yehuda Gilad, and received her Bachelor of Music degree, graduating cum laude, as a student of Burt Hara at the University of Minnesota. She received significant orchestral training from the Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Music Academy of the West, where she performed Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. Laura’s primary teachers include Yehuda Gilad, Burt Hara, Michele Zukovsky, Richie Hawley, Monica Kaenzig, and Jennifer Gerth. 

Courses taught: Applied clarinet