Najee Greenlee, a clarinetist from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, is making waves in the classical music world with his recent national performance, now live on the YourClassical platform hosted by American Public Media. Greenlee, who will begin his third year as a student at the Shepherd School this fall, won the prestigious Shepherd School Concerto Competition last year, earning the opportunity to perform with the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra to conclude the 2023-24 season.
Hailing from Flint, Michigan, Greenlee’s journey to classical music began in the fifth grade when he chose band over basketball as an afterschool activity. His music teacher handed him a clarinet, a decision that changed his life forever. Today, Greenlee has earned national recognition as one of five young musicians selected for the 2024 Performance Today Young Artists in Residence Program, a significant achievement considering the thousands of students who applied nationwide.
Greenlee’s selection into the program comes as no surprise given his impressive resume. A former student of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, Greenlee also appeared on NPR’s “From the Top” in 2021. His talent earned him a fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival in 2023, where he performed with the Conducting Academy Orchestra.
At the Shepherd School, Greenlee continues to hone his craft under the guidance of renowned clarinetist Richie Hawley, professor of clarinet.
“I really love the size of the school and the mingling that happens between studios and teachers,” Greenlee said. “You have so many opportunities to learn from them.”
Greenlee’s dedication to his craft is evident in his preparation for the “Copland Clarinet Concerto,” the piece he performed to win the concerto competition, which began in 2022.
“After building up the piece to be able to perform it at a high level, I am going back to look at it with a magnifying glass to bring things to their very best,” Greenlee said.
YourClassical, a platform developed by American Public Media, offers Greenlee a national stage to showcase his talents. With curated streams and programs, the platform connects classical music lovers with pieces for every moment of life. Greenlee’s feature, accompanied by pianist and Shepherd School artistic collaborator Beilin Han, is now available online, offering listeners a glimpse into the future of classical music.
As Greenlee prepares for the start of the fall semester, he remains grateful for the opportunity to perform with familiar faces in the school’s orchestra.
“Every time I rehearse, it feels like ‘I get to do this again,’” Greenlee said. “It’s definitely not something I take for granted.”
Listen to Greenlee’s YourClassical performance of Schumann’s “Fantasy Pieces” and Debussy’s “Arabesque No. 1” with Han here.