Photo credit: Anna Dougherty

Meghan Yankowskas, a St. Louis-based musician, is an upbeat performer whose embraces all types of musical styles, regardless of the instrument or microphone in her hand. She serves full-time, active duty as a regional bandsman in the United States Air Force Bands. In addition, she is also a member of Third Millennium World’s Fair, an experimental folk tribute to St. Louis that has performed at events such as Make Music St. Louis, the Webster Arts Fair, and Showcase STL.  Yankowskas' accomplishments include clinching second place in the MyAirForceLife Worldwide Talent Competition, multiple solo performances with the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, attending Fifth House Ensemble’s Fresh Inc. festival, and many recitals and master classes across the country. 
 
Always striving to create something new and unique, Yankowskas uses technology as a tool to enhance her performance capabilities, whether it be through composing electronic music, utilizing live loops and other effects, or incorporating pre-recorded material, such as interviews, into an entire recital. In 2019, she presented her lecture, “Beep-Boops and You: Combining Electronics with ‘Classical’ Instruments 101” at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest in Knoxville, TN. She can be seen performing original electronic music throughout the St. Louis music scene in her spare time.
 
As a teacher, Yankowskas’ experiences have ranged from beginning private lessons to coaching college chamber groups and running studio classes as a graduate assistant. She spreads her enthusiasm for clarinet and other music stylings through master classes and presentations around the country. Much of her teaching philosophy lies on not only improving students as clarinetists and musicians, but also finding ways to apply their lesson skills extramusically. Currently, she serves as the clarinet professor at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL.

Yankowskas attended the University of New Hampshire and Bowling Green State University, studying clarinet under Dr. Elizabeth Gunlogson and Kevin Schempf respectively. Her other interests involve running, graphic design, thrift shopping, her two cats (Marla and Pancake) and hand-crafting corny puns.


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