About

Originally from Destin, Florida and now based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Cari Sands is a classically trained clarinetist, educator, and arts marketing professional with over 15 years of performance experience. An advocate for new music and interdisciplinary collaboration, Cari is a sought-after contemporary and collaborative artist who has participated in more than 40 world premieres, performing works by composers including Michael Daugherty, James May, Jang Hyun Kim, and others.

Cari performs regularly with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and made her European debut at the AlpenKammerMusik Festival. She currently serves as resident clarinetist with Versipel Collective in New Orleans and maintains an active private clarinet studio, working with students of all ages and levels.

A woman with curly hair smiling at a woman with curly hair working on a laptop at a table in a room with a closet.

A woman with curly black hair smiling at the camera, holding a clarinet in her right hand, standing outdoors on a path lined with trees and a brick wall.

Alongside her performance career, Cari has built a parallel path as a marketing and communications professional specializing in arts and culture. As a musician, she brings a deep, firsthand understanding of how audiences engage with the arts and what it takes to create experiences that are both meaningful and memorable. She also brings over 10 years of experience in specialty boutique management and sales leadership, offering valuable insight into customer engagement, storytelling, and brand growth within the retail landscape.

By combining her background as a professional musician and educator with her experience in boutique management - and refining these skills in the digital space - Cari has successfully made a name for herself across both the nonprofit and retail sectors. Her work has supported organizations and clients including Concert Artists Guild, AlpenKammerMusik, New Music on the Bayou, Monomin, and Mae Lah Boutique.

Cari holds an Honors Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts in Arts and Culture Marketing from the University of Denver. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys exploring New Orleans’ vibrant food, music, and creative scenes.

Let’s talk!

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I’ll be in touch shortly. I can’t wait to hear from you!