Mikayla Black is currently completing her graduate studies in conducting at the University of Utah, working with Dr. Jason Missal and Dr. Robert Baldwin. As a part of her studies, she regularly conducts the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and the Clarinet Choir, which recently performed in Dublin, Ireland at the 2024 ICA ClarinetFest, under her baton. 

 

Mikayla holds an undergraduate degree in music education from the esteemed Central Washington University Music program, where she studied clarinet with Joseph Brooks and conducing with Lewis Norfleet, Paul Bain, and Dr. T. Andre Feagin. Other conducting teachers include Dr. Matthew Makeever and Lauren Tian Machado. 

 

Before coming to the Utah Philharmonic Orchestra, Mikayla was the director of bands and orchestras at Bennion Jr High in Taylorsville Utah. She has taught middle school and high school band, orchestra, and choir in both Utah and Washington States. 

 

Mikayla maintains an active performance career, serving as an assistant conductor and ensemble member for the Taylorsville Symphony Orchestra, a featured soloist and section member clarinetist for the Wasatch Winds Symphonic Band, a clarinetist for the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds, the Utah Clarinet Choir, and the Holladay Messiah Orchestra and Chorus. She also works regularly as an accompanist for choirs and soloists.