About Kyle Kostenko

Kyle Kostenko is an American clarinetist, scholar, and teacher whose work seeks a new, socially conscious understanding of art music in the 21st century. A Fulbright award recipient, Kyle conducted research on Romanian experimental art music for clarinet in Bucharest, Romania from 2019-2020. Kyle currently serves as the artistic director for the award-winning, high energy Splinter Tongue. He is also a founding member, clarinetist, and bass clarinetist with the innovative sextet Catchfire Collective. Kyle’s work as a chamber musician has been recognized at the Douglas Wayland Chamber Music Competition and at competitions of the Music Teachers’ National Association. Kyle is a frequent guest with orchestras in the Piedmont Triad, and during the 2015-16 season, he was the clarinet mentor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Wu Family Academy. 

Kyle is dedicated to the performance and commissioning of music by traditionally underrepresented composers, especially works by women and Black, Indigenous, People of Color. An advocate for new and experimental music, he has performed works by composers including Liana Alexandra, Stephen Hartke, Michael Henry, Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Theresa Martin, Doina Rotaru, and Joan Tower. In 2016, he was featured on the Bowling Green State University New Music Festival in a performance of Higdon’s Zaka for the composer. In 2019, Kyle was featured in a performance of composer and soprano Lisa Bielawa’s chamber and electroacoustic music. In addition, Kyle participated in the world premiere of D.J. Sparr’s Ella Que Llora for soprano and chamber ensemble. 2019 also saw the premiere of a new work for clarinet and speaker by Robin McLaughlin titled Hot Take, written for Kyle. 

Kyle earned his Master’s in Music and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Musicology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Bowling Green State University. His principal teachers were Anthony Taylor, Kevin Schempf, and Andy Hudson.