Dr. Lea Steffens

A native of Southern California, Lea Steffens earned the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1999. She also holds the Master of Music degree from UCLA, and the Bachelor of Music degree in Performance, cum laude, from California State University, Long Beach.

Dr. Steffens has been active as a professional clarinetist since 1988, working with symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, wind ensembles, musicals, operas, choirs, churches, theaters, theme parks and cruise ships. She holds the tenured position of bass clarinetist with the Fresno Philharmonic and can be heard regularly throughout California with a number of ensembles, and as a soloist. She performs with organizations such as the Long Beach Municipal Band, Santa Monica Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Desert Symphony, Fresno Grand Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, San Bernardino Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Pacific Symphony Pops, American Winds, Los Angeles Metropolitan Orchestra, Long Beach Opera, Musica Angelica, Opera a la Carte, Aria Players, California Concert Artists, Disneyland Band, and has traveled to performance venues throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.

As a studio musician, Dr. Steffens has recorded major motion picture and television soundtracks for Sony Pictures, Walt Disney/Pixar Productions, HBO Pictures, Universal Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, and DreamWorks.  Some of the titles on which she has worked include The Good German, Cinderella Man, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Hidalgo, Finding Nemo, Meet Joe Black, Geronimo, Treasure Island, The Wild West, Angels in America, and the television show JAG.

Dr. Steffens teaches clarinet at Chapman University, Irvine Valley College, and Long Beach City College. She resides in Orange with her husband Mike and daughter Kahlan.