Lamont Student Profile: Kaitlyn Nohara
For clarinetist Kaitlyn Nohara, the journey from Honolulu to Denver has been one of remarkable personal and musical growth. A senior at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, Kaitlyn is a vibrant presence both onstage and behind the scenes—known for her leadership, curiosity, and creative spirit.
Drawn to Lamont by the opportunity to study with Dr. Jeremy Reynolds, Kaitlyn was immediately struck by the balance he maintained between rigorous mentorship and genuine camaraderie. “In my first lesson with him, he told me things I’d never heard before—but he was also very funny,” she recalls. “It’s great to have someone I can laugh and joke with while still being pushed to be my best.”
Adjusting to life on the mainland wasn’t easy. “People from Hawaiʻi are very nice and very chill,” she says. “At first, it was hard to connect—people had walls up. I realized I had to take the first step.” Kaitlyn began organizing social events for the clarinet studio, which helped her build lasting connections not only within her cohort but across the Lamont community. She now runs the Clarinet Studio’s Instagram and leads their weekly “Clarinet Gym Day.”
Kaitlyn’s leadership is visible in her work beyond performance. Since sophomore year, she’s been a Student Publications Assistant in Lamont’s Marketing & Communications office, a role she says has honed her professional skills—from time management to setting boundaries under deadline pressure. “There’s not a single second I’ve spent in that office just relaxing,” she laughs. “It’s demanding, but it’s been invaluable.”
Her initiative didn’t go unnoticed. When her former supervisor left, Kaitlyn stepped into a de facto leadership role, using her knowledge to streamline formatting and editing processes. That hands-on experience opened the door to an exciting opportunity: an internship with the International Clarinet Association, where she’ll assist with planning and fundraising for the 2026 conference in Korea.
Kaitlyn is also a Presser Scholar, a prestigious honor awarded to one senior music major each year for academic excellence and service. Her winning essay reflected on her outreach, diversity work, and efforts to bring underrepresented heritage into musicological study. Of Okinawan and Filipino descent, Kaitlyn has explored both cultures in her research—highlighting Okinawan music’s connection to dance and the adaptive nature of Filipino musical traditions shaped by colonization.
As a performer, Kaitlyn thrives in ensemble settings. She plays clarinet with Proxyma-B, a dynamic student
wind quintet that formed in Fall 2024 and quickly earned accolades, including a runner-up finish in the Lamont Chamber Competition and a fellowship with the Compass Resonance series. “We clicked right away,” she says. “It’s really rewarding to be in a group where everyone’s ideas are heard.” The group focuses on modern repertoire and frequently collaborates with student composers—something Kaitlyn hopes to do even more of in the future.
After graduation, Kaitlyn will pursue her Master of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Though she’s excited for the next chapter, she plans to stay connected with Proxyma-B and continue performing together when possible. Long-term, she hopes to land an associate or E-flat clarinet position in a professional orchestra while building a teaching studio. “In my pedagogy and literature class, I discovered how much I enjoy teaching,” she says. “I’m really excited to grow in that direction.”
Outside of music, Kaitlyn finds joy in the unexpected: she runs an Instagram page reviewing hot dogs (@kt.hotdogs), folds origami leis for friends’ recitals, and enjoys video games—currently obsessed with Wingspan, a bird-themed strategy game.
Reflecting on her time at Lamont, Kaitlyn is filled with gratitude. “The people here are so amazing. I’ve made lifelong friends and connections,” she says. “Thanks to Dr. Reynolds and my peers in the studio, I’ve grown so much as a musician. It feels really great to be part of a studio that wants to help each other.”
