Gretchen Roper is the Second Clarinetist with the Charleston Symphony, joining the orchestra in 2006. Gretchen received a Bachelor of Music degree from Duquesne University in 2005, studying with Michael Rusinek and Ron Samuels, and then pursued a Masters Degree in Music from the University of Minnesota, studying with Burt Hara. Gretchen has also had the opportunity to study with the late beloved clarinetist and pedagogue, David Weber.

In addition to her position with the Charleston Symphony, Gretchen plays Third Utility Clarinet with the Hilton Head Symphony. Gretchen has also enjoyed playing with the Savannah Philharmonic, Chamber Music Charleston, The
Beaufort Symphony, The Sarasota Orchestra, and the Minnesota Orchestra. Gretchen has attended the National
Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute in Washington D.C., and the Banff Center Summer Workshop and Orchestra Festival in Alberta, Canada. She has also played with The Wintergreen Summer Music Festival in Wintergreen, VA and has appeared several times in the Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto festivals here in Charleston.

In addition to playing clarinet, Gretchen enjoys being a clarinet repair specialist, and teaching a thriving private
clarinet studio of all ages.