About

Emily Lazernik (she/her/hers)

Performer - Educator - Scholar

Emily Lazernik is a multifaceted musician and educator based in Los Angeles, California.  Emily has an active career as a freelance musician and can be heard at various venues across the state with a myriad of groups; from modern orchestras and opera productions, to chamber music ensembles, to early music groups.  She has played under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Carl St. Clair, Anthony Parnther, Jeffrey Kahane, Alastiar Willis, and Mei-Ann Chen.​

She is pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in bassoon performance at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music where she studies with Shawn Mouser, associate principal bassoon of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  In addition to her work with the bassoon, Ms. Lazernik's studies focus on music teaching and learning, as well as early music.  She studies Baroque bassoon and bass dulcian with Adam Gilbert, Director and Chair of Early Music at Thornton.​

A passionate educator, Ms. Lazernik has over a decade of teaching experience.  She is currently a bassoon teaching artist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s El Sistema style youth orchestra program, YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles).  She also maintains a small private studio of bassoon students.  ​Previously, Emily worked for the one of the nation's largest arts based youth development programs, Harmony Project, where she was among one of the program's top rated teaching artists.

Ms. Lazernik holds a Master's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelors' degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  She plays on a Heckel #5746 and an Eichentopf by Leslie Ross.​

When she is not making music, Emily enjoys painting, cafe hopping, cooking, and walking her beloved chihuahua. Cola.