Jacob Freiman is a Jewish American clarinetist and educator based in New York City. A native of California, Jacob grew up hearing the sounds of klezmer echoing throughout his house, and from the moment he was handed a clarinet, began voraciously practicing and studying the instrument. Jacob currently studies at the Manhattan School of Music as a Professional Studies Certificate Student, and has received a M.M. (Clarinet Performance), B.M. (Clarinet Performance), and B.A. (Psychology) from UCLA. His musical journey has been led at different times by nine private instructors including Alan Kay, Boris Allakhverdyan, Josh Ranz, Steve Barta, and Gary Gray. Jacob is fortunate to have also performed in masterclasses led by Pascual Martínez-Forteza, Michael Wayne, Nicholas Baldeyrou, Yehuda Gilad, Florent Héau, Gregory Raden, Emil Khudyev, Stanislav Golovin, and David Gould.

Jacob served as the inaugural principal clarinetist of the California Young Artists Symphony from 2021 to 2024, and has also performed as a soloist with the UCLA Philharmonia as a winner of the 18th Annual All-Star Competition. Jacob has worked extensively as a chamber musician, being a founding member of the Zephyrus Trio (flute, oboe, and clarinet), winner of the 2021 Beverly Hills National Auditions and semifinalist in the 2020 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as an Artist in Residence for Interlochen Public Radio during the Summer of 2023 when he toured Northern Michigan with the Fivemind Reed Quintet.

With a strong passion for teaching, Jacob’s goal is to expand access to music education for students of all backgrounds. In addition to being a substitute teaching artist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s El Sistema Youth Orchestra Program, YOLA, he has coached woodwind students in several youth orchestras and high schools in the Los Angeles area. By always being receptive to new perspectives, Jacob hopes to inspire the next generation of musicians.