Joshua Ranz is both a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony. Joshua was just appointed Principal Clarinet for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and has been acting Principal in the past two seasons, including LACO’s recent European tour. In March, 2006 he played Principal Clarinet with the Pacific Symphony on their European Tour, performing in numerous cities including Munich, Cologne, Lucerne and Vienna. He has recorded with the Pacific Symphony and is active in the Television and Motion Picture industry. Josh spends his summers performing with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in western New York as well as the Mainly Mozart festival in San Diego, CA. He has performed with Chamber Music Palisades, the Capitol Ensemble and numerous other chamber music programs throughout Southern California. Josh is on faculty at Pomona College and Biola University.

Before moving to Los Angeles in 1999, Josh was a member of the Honolulu and San Jose symphonies. He was a fellow and a faculty member of the Aspen Music School and Festival and a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival. He has played recitals at the International Clarinet Association Convention and has performed with the New York Woodwind Quintet at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.

Originally from New York, Josh attended Fiorella H. LaGuardia H.S. of Music & Art and Performing Arts. He went on to receive his Bachelors’ degree at Harvard College, majoring in music composition and analysis. Josh then received his M.M. at the Yale School of Music, where he studied with David Shifrin.
Aside from his classical pursuits, Josh has been involved in Klezmer music since he was a young child. At Harvard he composed a Klezmer concerto for clarinet and chamber orchestra as his senior thesis, and performed it with fellow members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra.

Josh and his wife, oboist Lelie Resnick, became proud parents of Jonah Ethan Ranz in October 2006.

photo Michael Miller