Aydin Iqbal, clarinet

Meet Aydin

Aydin Iqbal (clarinet), 17, is a senior at Issaquah High School. He discovered his passion for music at age 11 when he started playing the clarinet. Aydin is very grateful to be studying under Emil Khudyev, the Seattle Symphony’s Associate Principal Clarinet.

During his elementary and middle school years, he lived in Dallas, Texas. In 7th grade, he won the district Solo and Ensemble competition. Aydin placed 1st in the TMEA All Region competition during 8th grade. He was granted the Lewisville ISD Outstanding Soloist Award in 2019.

Aydin continued to win competitions when he moved to Washington in December of 2020. He is the principal clarinetist and woodwind section leader of the Evergreen Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2022, he won the WMEA Solo and Ensemble regional competition, and went on to win the state level competition. In 2021-2022, Aydin won the award for Most Achieved in the Issaquah High School Wind Ensemble. The same year he also won the Evergreen Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Aydin has also placed as a finalist in the NOCCO concerto competition. Aydin also performed as principal clarinetist for the Western International Band Clinic. Aydin is proud to be a 2023 and 2024 YoungArts award winner in Classical Music. Aydin received the Interlochen Orchestral Scholarship Award, and was awarded a merit scholarship to attend Brevard Institute’s Summer Arts Program. Additionally, Aydin performed with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinetist.

Other than his competitive side and performance work, Aydin also enjoys sharing his love for music with as many people as possible. He is the Director of Musicians For Equality, a student-led nonprofit organization that raises money for communities with limited access and resources and promotes equality and equity in the classical music industry by hosting live-streamed recitals featuring young musicians.

Aydin wants to continue to spread his love for music to others. He plans to do so by exploring as many performance opportunities, festivals, clinics, and competitions as possible. Aydin’s dream is to continue studying clarinet in university and to one day be in a professional orchestra. Outside of music, he enjoys spending time with his family, programming, going to the gym, and enjoying the natural beauty that Washington has to offer.