Faculty Recital: Dr. Julia Heinen with 4 Low Pitches bass clarinet quartet

Program Description

4 Low Pitches bass clarinet quartet will delight the audience performing exciting and diverse repertoire from many genres of the music world. You will find yourself tapping your toes and wanting to jump up dancing with them as they perform some recognizable works like Molly on the Floor (Shore) and Saint Paul’s Suite. You will also be intrigued with the vast versatility of the bass clarinet and what this instrument in the hands of virtuosos can do! 

4 Low Pitches

Julia Heinen, bass clarinet
Melissa Morales, bass clarinet
Stacie Traill, bass clarinet
Colleen White, bass clarinet

The Twin Cities-based 4 Low Pitches Bass Clarinet Quartet have two missions: to bring music of diverse composers and arrangers into the spotlight and to highlight the beauty and flexibility of the bass clarinet. Julia Heinen, Melissa Morales, Stacie Traill, and Colleen White formed this unique and exciting ensemble in 2024. These four virtuoso clarinetists perform as soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral players and strive to make the world of music accessible to all. Their programming includes music from all genres presented in an entertaining and captivating manner, leaving their listeners smiling. Their enthusiasm for pursuing new ways to explore the vast collaborative ways clarinets can connect with each other and the community is infectious. Come and join them for for any of their events!

4 Low Pitches is honored to be included in 2025-2026 & 2026-2027 MPR Class Notes Artist Roster whose mission is to provide free K-12 classroom concert experiences that inspire students and support teachers.

Dr. Julia Heinen

Julia Heinen joined the Bethel University Faculty as Private Lesson Instructor in Clarinet in 2024. As a soloist, Julia Heinen has performed hundreds of concertos and recitals around the world including recent performances in the Netherlands, Ireland, England, Italy, Ireland, Korea, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, France, El Salvador, the Czech Republic, Spain and Portugal.

Dr. Heinen has adjudicated many competitions including chairing the jury of the 9th International Mercadante Clarinet Competition in Noci, Italy and serving on the jury for the 2nd Biannual International European Clarinet Competition in Ghent, Belgium. Recently, she served as an artist faculty member, soloist, and adjudicator at the 2026 International Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in Shanghai, China. 

Dr. Heinen has held principal and associate principal positions with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, Dubuque, LaCrosse, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, and Rochester Symphonies in addition to performing as principal clarinet soloist with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra in Georgia and e-flat clarinetist with the Augusta (GA) and Greenville (SC) Symphonies. She has also played several concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony Orchestra.

Since 1995, Ms. Heinen has been Professor of Music at California State University, Northridge and began her appointment as Lecturer in Clarinet at Bethel University in Fall of 2024. She has been a member of the International Clarinet Association since 1978 and served as the co-artistic director of ClarinetFest®️ 2011 the annual international conference of this organization. She continues her work with the ICA as the North America Continent Chair, the past National State Chair Coordinator and state of Minnesota Chair. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in clarinet performance, studying clarinet with Robert Marcellus among others.

Dr. Heinen is committed to participation in the arts being available to all and works diligently to advocate for this goal. Her research and leadership projects focus on underrepresented constituencies and she works tirelessly to bring arts participation as a vocation or avocation to all. 

Julia Heinen is a Buffet Crampon, D’Addario and Silverstein Performing Artist and performs exclusively on Buffet clarinets, D’Addario reeds, and Silverstein ligatures.