About Nora
Nora Shaffer is an in-demand freelancer and private instructor in the Chicago area. She has had the pleasure of performing and recording with many area ensembles. Recent appearances include with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, and many others.
A proud DePaul University graduate, she studied with Larry Combs and Julie DeRoche while earning a Performer’s Certificate and Masters in Music (with distinction). She completed a B.A. in music at Luther College, Decorah, IA and has also studied with Stephen Williamson, Bil Jackson, and Andrew Stevens.
Passionate about chamber music, Nora is a founding member (Clarinet 1/Eb Clarinet) of the Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet. As Vandoren artists, the quartet concertizes and presents clinics across the Midwest.
Nora maintains a private studio in Chicago, as well as significant studios at Niles West High School, Skokie, IL, and Puzon’s Musical Instruments, Lansing, IL. Her talented students have participated at Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa All State Bands/Orchestras, received consistently high marks at Solo Ensemble Festivals, and have been accepted to study clarinet at many quality universities.
In 2017, Nora’s method, Scales and Harmonic Studies for the Intermediate Clarinetist, the first comprehensive intermediate scale study, was published by EHM Publishing. Suitable for high school - early college, this method provides students with a solid knowledge of all keys to eliminate frustration when learning more complex variations of scale study. The method was "highly recommended" by the International Clarinet Association's December 2018 edition of The Clarinet.
In her spare time, Nora enjoys adventurous cooking and baking (including two wedding cakes!), biking along Lake Michigan, doting on her two adorable cats, and maintaining an impressive shoe collection. For more information, visit Nora's website!
A proud DePaul University graduate, she studied with Larry Combs and Julie DeRoche while earning a Performer’s Certificate and Masters in Music (with distinction). She completed a B.A. in music at Luther College, Decorah, IA and has also studied with Stephen Williamson, Bil Jackson, and Andrew Stevens.
Passionate about chamber music, Nora is a founding member (Clarinet 1/Eb Clarinet) of the Lake Effect Clarinet Quartet. As Vandoren artists, the quartet concertizes and presents clinics across the Midwest.
Nora maintains a private studio in Chicago, as well as significant studios at Niles West High School, Skokie, IL, and Puzon’s Musical Instruments, Lansing, IL. Her talented students have participated at Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa All State Bands/Orchestras, received consistently high marks at Solo Ensemble Festivals, and have been accepted to study clarinet at many quality universities.
In 2017, Nora’s method, Scales and Harmonic Studies for the Intermediate Clarinetist, the first comprehensive intermediate scale study, was published by EHM Publishing. Suitable for high school - early college, this method provides students with a solid knowledge of all keys to eliminate frustration when learning more complex variations of scale study. The method was "highly recommended" by the International Clarinet Association's December 2018 edition of The Clarinet.
In her spare time, Nora enjoys adventurous cooking and baking (including two wedding cakes!), biking along Lake Michigan, doting on her two adorable cats, and maintaining an impressive shoe collection. For more information, visit Nora's website!
