National Chamber Winds — Clarinet
Maryland Winds — Principal Clarinet

GPD (Peabody Conservatory), MM (University of Michigan), BMus (Eastman School of Music)

Equally accomplished in large ensembles and chamber music, clarinetist Melissa Johnson Lander has performed at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Kennedy Center, as well as in unique locations like the Royal Norwegian Palace and castle ruins in Heidelberg. A former Co-Principal Clarinetist with the U.S. Army Field Band, Melissa has toured the country, performing in over 800 concerts, often taking center stage as a soloist. She holds degrees from Interlochen Arts Academy, Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, and more recently Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Anthony McGill.

Melissa Johnson Lander is a founding member of the National Chamber Winds in Washington, D.C., and an active chamber musician. Recent highlights include a tour in Turkey premiering a new work by composer Fazil Say, and an upcoming 2025 album with her all-female clarinet quartet, Voix des Femmes. Melissa is deeply committed to enriching her local music community through both performance and education. She is Principal Clarinet of the Maryland Winds which performs locally and partners with Howard County schools, offering sectionals and masterclasses. And as a private teacher she maintains a studio of over 20 students. In her free time Melissa enjoys antiquing and thrifting, traveling with her family and loving on their whippet, Winston.