Truman Clarinet Studio

Chloe Armentrout is a senior music therapy major. She transferred to Truman from the State College of Florida in Bradenton, Florida, where she received the “Most Outstanding Woodwind” Award and served as a woodwind staff member for the Lakewood Ranch High School marching band. She was also named “Music Student of the Month” by the Florida College System Activities Association and received the Diane Gorzycki Woman Band Directors Scholarship. She will be completing her final internship this year at Florida Music Therapy in Melbourne, FL.

Mason Bender is a junior music education major from Troy, Missouri where he made the All-District Honorable Mention Band and received Gold on his solo at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. When not playing music, he likes to hang out with friends and practice archery.

Elijah Bobeen is a freshman music education major from Troy, Missouri where he received Gold ratings at solo contest and was named 1st Chair for the All-District Honorable Mention Band. He enjoys learning new instruments for fun and playing video games.

Dylan Bonn is a second-year graduate student from Kenosha, Wisconsin, pursuing the Master of Arts degree in clarinet performance at Truman, where he serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the clarinet studio. He received his undergraduate degree in clarinet performance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he was principal clarinet for the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Orchestra for three years. He also received a master’s degree in music education from the same institution, and regularly taught lessons to students outside of school. He won first place at the 2025 Missouri Music Teachers Association Graduate Woodwind Competition and was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Truman Gold Medal Concerto Competition. He’s currently serving as the International Clarinet Association’s Student Ambassador for Missouri. During his free time, he enjoys spending time outside, riding his bike, going on hikes, or relaxing in a hammock.

Ethan Brinning is a freshman music education major from Indianola, Iowa where he was selected for the SCIBA Honor Band twice and served as section leader of his high school marching band. He was awarded the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award his senior year. His hobbies include fixing classic cars and playing video games.

Adan Callejo is a junior music business major from Milan, Missouri where he was selected to perform in the All-District Band for two years. He also received Gold ratings at the state contest, was a member of the national FFA Band and received the Sousa Award. He enjoys running and spending time with animals.

Taylor Caperton is a second-year graduate student pursuing the Master of Arts degree in clarinet performance. She received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Austin Peay State University, where she held leadership positions, including co-section leader of the clarinets in the marching band and president of the CNAfME chapter. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, she taught middle school band at Hopkinsville Middle School in Kentucky, and she was a member of the local community band. She received Runner Up at the 2025 Missouri Music Teachers Association Graduate Woodwind Competition. When she isn’t practicing or teaching, you can find her at the library scoping out her next good read!

Forrest Cason is a freshman music business major from Kirksville, Missouri who plans to pursue a career in instrument repair after graduation. He enjoys playing bass clarinet in addition to double bass in both orchestra and jazz ensemble. His hobbies include running, biking, and playing solo bass guitar pieces.

Violet Clutter is a first-year music minor who plays both clarinet and oboe at Truman. In high school, she received the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award, served as clarinet section leader, was selected for the All-District Band, and received four Gold ratings at the state solo contest. She also sings in choir and enjoys running, crocheting, and working lights and sound for theater productions.

Leo Daugherty is a freshman double major in Music and Chemistry from Belton, Missouri, where he was selected for the All-District Band all four years of high school. He also served as section leader and drum major, and received Gold ratings at the state solo contest. His hobbies include embroidering, reading, volunteering at the animal shelter, and watching Star Wars movies.

Brianna Dotson comes to us from St. Louis, Missouri, where she was selected for the All-District Honor Band and conducted the Phantom Regiment Drum Corps. She also received the John Philip Sousa Award. She’s currently finishing her Master of Arts in Conducting and Master of Arts in Education while serving as a Teaching Intern in St. Louis this semester. She loves playing clarinet and received the 2021 Hearst Fine Arts Memorial Scholarship.

Nicholas Dudley is a junior music education major from Troy Buchanan High School where he played in the All-District Band for three years and received two Gold ratings at the state solo contest. He also enjoys wrestling and playing jazz saxophone.

Jennifer Jones is in her senior year after transferring to Truman as a music performance major from Indiana University-Bloomington. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, she was a member of the St. Louis Youth Orchestra for two years, performed with the 2018 NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles Symphony Orchestra as first chair overall, and was selected as first chair overall of the Missouri All-State Convention for two consecutive years (she choose band in 2018 and orchestra in 2019). Recently, she received first place at the 2020 Missouri Music Teachers Association Collegiate Woodwinds Competition and first place in the 2023 Music Teachers National Association State-Level Competition for Collegiate Woodwinds.

Colton Kniffen is a senior music performance major and political science minor from Iowa, where he made the All-State Band his senior year. He also received Superior ratings at contest and made first chair in the Drake Honor Band. When not playing clarinet, he enjoys playing badminton, watching Netflix, and playing video games. He recently won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Missouri Music Teachers Association Collegiate Woodwinds Competition.

Willow Kriegshauser is a freshman music performance major from St. Louis, Missouri where they were selected 1st Chair Bass Clarinet at All-State two years in a row. They also received Gold ratings at the state solo contest and served as head of the low reed section at Lindbergh High School. When not playing music, their hobbies include thrifting, playing Indie video games, story writing and creating visual art.

Trystan Lickteig is a junior clarinet performance/music education double major from Kearney, Missouri. He was a two-time All-State Band member, a four-time All-District Band member, earned two gold ratings at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest, served as his high school’s drum major, and received the Sousa Award. He received “Honorable Mention” at the 2021 Missouri Music Teachers Association Collegiate Woodwinds Competition.

Alayna McCulley is a senior music education major from Imperial, Missouri, where she received the Director’s Award and Best Senior Award. She also performed in the All-District Band for two years and received Gold ratings at the state contest. She was soloist with both her high school concert and marching bands. Recently, she was selected as a winner of the 2026 Truman Wind Symphony Concerto Competition and received the opportunity to perform her piece with the ensemble. She enjoys playing video games in her free time.

Alaina Owens is a first-year music education major from Union, Missouri where she was selected for the All-District Band all four years, performed in the St. Louis Youth Symphony, served as her high school’s clarinet section leader, was named to the All-State Honorable Mention Band twice, and received Gold ratings at the state solo contest. She also received the Sousa Award, the Outstanding Woodwind Award, and served as drum major of her high school’s marching band. When not playing clarinet, her hobbies include reading, building Legos and fostering dogs.

Lily Schmitt is a senior music education major from Washington, Missouri, where she performed in the All-District Band all four years of high school. She also was selected for the All-State Honorable Mention Band her senior year and received Gold ratings at the state contest, as well as the Music Department Award. She won first place in both the 2023 and 2025 Missouri Music Teachers Association Collegiate Woodwinds Competitions. She was recently named “Outstanding Undergraduate” by the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs.

Thomas Stahl is a senior music composition and physics double major from Washington, Missouri, where he received a Gold rating at state contest for his bass clarinet solo. He enjoys learning astronomy, making board games, playing volleyball and running.

Josiah Stocks is a senior music education major from Kirksville, Missouri, where he was section leader of the high school band for two years and was selected for the All-District Band on alto clarinet. He enjoys collecting vinyl, listening to music on his hifi system and traveling to enjoy new experiences.

Beckett Whitworth is a junior music education major from Kirkwood High School in St. Louis, where he played bass clarinet in the youth orchestra for three years and was selected as third chair bass clarinet in the Missouri All-State Band his senior year. He recently received Honorable Mention in the 2025 Missouri Music Teachers Association College Woodwind Competition. In his free time, he enjoys working out at the gym.