Ember Miller

Biography

Clarinetist Ember Miller is an active performer and educator based in the Chicago area. She currently serves as principal clarinetist of the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra, and appears regularly with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Midwest. Ember’s performances combine technical command with warmth, clarity, and expressive depth.

In addition to her performing career, Ember maintains a vibrant private clarinet studio. She serves on the faculties of Lake Forest College and North Central College, coaches chamber music at Midwest Young Artists, and is regularly invited to teach masterclasses at colleges and universities throughout the country. Her teaching is inspired by her life as a working musician, and her students benefit from a studio culture that emphasizes artistry, identity, and belonging. Her private students frequently earn placements in regional and national competitions and pursue music at the collegiate level.

Ember earned her bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University, where she studied with Caroline Hartig, and her master’s degree at Northwestern University, where she studied with Steve Cohen. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two French bulldogs, and family, and travels frequently.