KIDS WHO SHINE
KAH’LIN JORDAN, 17
“The song of the clarinet is personal since I breathe through it, like it’s my form of singing.” BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE The accolades that follow Kah’lin Jordan’s name seem to be that of someone much older. After someone experiences one of his performances, however, it’s easy to see — and hear — why this young man continues to garner attention from across the country. Jordan, who hails from Hoover, is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where he studies clarinet with Dr. Robert Janssen. A member of the orchestra, choir, jazz, and chamber ensembles, Jordan has also performed with the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra. He got his start in band when he was 10 years old in middle school, scoring high with the clarinet during his initial instrument evaluation. Since then, his musical skills and career have flourished. NPR named him the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award recipient, which gave him $10,000 to pursue clarinet studies. The scholarship money can be applied to instrument purchases, music camps, private lessons, and other expenses associated with the pursuit of music. Another perk of receiving the scholarship was that it meant he was invited to perform on NPR’s “From the Top,” which is the country’s largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of young, classically trained musicians. It’s broadcast on more than 220 stations and has an audience of more than 500,000 listeners. “It was amazing,” Jordan says. Though, the experience also proved to be a bit difficult because he had to play virtually with pianist Peter Dugan. That meant listening to the piano track and recording his part to match, before sending the files back. Even with that hurdle, Jordan says the experience was well worth it. Jordan was also named a 2021 YoungArts Finalist, which included an invite to participate in YoungArts Week. Though his experience was through Zoom due to the pandemic, Jordan says 30 Bham Family May 2021
Kah’lin Jordan is a senior at the Alabama School of Fine Arts.
it was a lot of fun and he met amazing artists. “They made it seem like we were already professionals,” he says. “I had never been looked at as a professional before.” He has also been invited twice to join National Youth Orchestra 2 (NY02), which gave him the opportunity to perform at Miami’s New World Center and also at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Not only does he love playing the clarinet, but coming together to perform with other musicians is also one of his passions. “I can really connect with each and every other instrument,” he says. “The song of the clarinet is personal since I breathe through it, like it’s my form of singing.” His artistic and creative talents aren’t confined to the band room or stage. Joran also likes to cook, bake, and has recently formed an interest in creative writing. After graduation, he plans to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City to pursue a soloist career in clarinet performance — where he’s sure to continue to impress.
