As agents of new repertoire, Égide Duo’s mission is to collaborate with composers to create and present music that addresses social change, including issues involving the environment/climate, animal and human rights, and equality. The duo aims to provide clear and pointed musical commentary on issues that affect our society today and tomorrow in an effort to draw attention to and encourage active public engagement on such issues. Joshua and Stefanie Gardner have commissioned works by Eric Mandat, Kurt Mehlenbacher, Jon Russell, John Steinmetz, Joel Love, and others dedicated to effecting social change through music.

The duo has been invited to perform at conferences for numerous organizations, including the International Clarinet Association and the College Music Society. Their recent performance at ClarinetFest 2019 was described as “powerful” with a “vibrant color palette and captivating quality” by the conference review team. They have appeared as guest artists throughout the US and in France.

In addition to performing, Joshua and Stefanie hold teaching positions in higher education. Joshua teaches at Arizona State University and Stefanie teaches at Glendale Community College (AZ). They both perform with the Paradise Winds Reed Quintet and are Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer and Silverstein Works performing artists.

Dr. Joshua Gardner is Associate Professor of Clarinet and Director of the Performance Physiology Research Laboratory at Arizona State University, where he has served on the faculty since 2011. Widely respected as both a performer and pedagogue, Gardner’s career is distinguished by its integration of high-level artistry, pioneering research, and innovative pedagogy.

A sought-after clarinetist and chamber musician, Gardner regularly performs across the United States and internationally, appearing with acclaimed ensembles including the Paradise Winds reed quintet and Égide Duo. Known for his vibrant musicality and refined technique, he has appeared as a soloist with numerous ensembles and has been featured on American Public Media’s Performance Today. His performances and research presentations have been featured at major conferences, including those of the International Clarinet Association, European Clarinet Congress, International Double Reed Society, North American Saxophone Alliance, College Music Society, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and numerous state music educator conferences.

Deeply invested in advancing the understanding of wind performance, Gardner’s research focuses on biomechanics, performance physiology, and woodwind pedagogy. His work employs advanced technologies—including ultrasound imaging and thin-film force sensors—to investigate complex physical behaviors such as tongue mechanics. A first-prize winner of the International Clarinet Association’s Research Competition, Gardner frequently presents his findings through dynamic, live lecture-demonstrations that bridge the gap between science and applied performance. At ASU, Gardner directs the Performance Physiology Research Laboratory, where he mentors a wide range of student research projects, from embouchure pressure studies to imaging-based explorations of non-articulatory tongue motion in woodwind performance. He is also a member of SAMBA (Science of Art, Music, and Brain Activity), an interdisciplinary research collective at ASU that investigates the neurocognitive foundations of music perception and learning. The group synthesizes principles from perceptual theory, music education, and neural modeling to develop a more integrated understanding of how the brain engages with music.

An ardent champion of chamber music, Gardner serves as the soprano clarinetist with Paradise Winds, a Phoenix-based reed quintet dedicated to expanding and enriching the repertoire for this emerging ensemble format. The quintet released its third album, All Things Bright and Beautiful, in 2022 and is recognized for its commitment to commissioning new works. Notable collaborations include pieces by Jon Russell, Deborah Kavasch, John Marvin, Cornelius Boots, Alyssa Morris, Graham Cohen, Karalyn Schubring, and many others. In 2025, Paradise Winds performed at the inaugural Reed Quintet Festival, hosted by the Calefax Reed Quintet in Amsterdam.

Gardner also performs with Égide Duo, a socially engaged chamber ensemble he co-founded with clarinetist Stefanie Gardner. The duo commissions and performs music that addresses urgent themes including environmental sustainability, social equity, and animal and human rights. Their mission is to use music as a platform for meaningful commentary and public engagement. Their performance at ClarinetFest 2019 was described by the conference review team as “powerful,” marked by a “vibrant color palette and captivating quality.” Composers commissioned by Égide Duo include Eric Mandat, Jon Russell, Amanda Harberg, Alex Temple, Carter Pann, and Joel Love, among others. Their most recent album, Gardners At Home (2025), showcases works recorded at their home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, capturing the duo’s adaptability and creative spirit during a time of global upheaval.

Dr. Gardner holds dual bachelor’s degrees in music education and clarinet performance from the University of Kentucky and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University. He is a Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist, performing on Privilège clarinets, and a Silverstein Pro Team Artist.

Dr. Stefanie Harger Gardner is an acclaimed clarinetist, educator, and advocate for new music and inclusivity in the arts. She serves as Music Program Director at Glendale Community College, where she leads Team Lo-Blow, the world’s largest active low clarinet choir. Formerly on the clarinet faculty at Northern Arizona University, Gardner has built an international reputation as a performer, leader, and champion of contemporary music.

Recognized among “100 Famous Female Clarinetists Throughout History,” Gardner maintains a vibrant performance career with Arizona Opera, the Phoenix Symphony, AZ MusicFest, the internationally celebrated Paradise Winds, and the award-winning Égide Duo, whose mission is to commission and perform works that inspire social change. Her cross-genre collaborations include performances with Jason Alexander, Pitbull, Ceelo, Danny Elfman, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, David and Katherine McPhee Foster, Jordin Sparks, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Hanson, and The Who. Her chamber recordings on the Soundset label are available on iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube, and she has commissioned or premiered more than 100 new works for clarinet and bass clarinet.

Gardner has performed at major international conferences including the International Clarinet Association, International Double Reed Society, North American Saxophone Alliance, International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, National Flute Association, and the International Viola Society. Recent engagements include performances at the Calefax Reed Quintet Festival in the Netherlands, Clarinets on Stage in Ghent, Belgium, the European Clarinet Congress in Salerno, Italy, with additional guest artist residencies across the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Italy, Austria, and Mexico. During the summers, she serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory Bass Clarinet Intensive, the Musician Enrichment Foundation, and the Henri Selmer Paris Academy.

A visionary leader in the clarinet community, Gardner founded the ICA Low Clarinet Festival and the ICA New Music Weekend during her tenure as Chair of the International Clarinet Association New Music Committee. She most recently chaired the ICA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Committee, furthering her dedication to creating a clarinet community that celebrates diversity and fosters belonging (see clarEquality.com).

An accomplished researcher and pedagogue, Gardner earned first prize in the ICA Research Competition for her groundbreaking study “An Investigation of Finger Motion and Hand Posture during Clarinet Performance,” conducted in collaboration with the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing at Arizona State University using CyberGloves® technology.

Her recent honors include recognition as a 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Quarterfinalist, inclusion among Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals, and receiving Arizona State University’s “Outstanding Contributions in Private Teaching” award. She also serves as a reviewer for W.W. Norton music theory and aural skills textbooks.

Gardner holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University, where she studied with Robert Spring. She is a Henri Selmer Paris/Conn-Selmer Performing Artist, a Silverstein Pro Team Artist, and a Gleichweit Performing Artist.

A native of Marshalltown, Iowa, Gail Novak now lives and performs in the Phoenix area. Gail is in demand as a collaborator across the United States and frequently performs with students, professors, and guest artists at Arizona State University. Gail’s extensive repertoire list for many different instruments has landed her invitations to perform at the National Trumpet Competition, the International Clarinet Festival, the International Double Reed Society, the National Flute Association, the International Trumpet Guild, the International Women’s Brass Conference, and the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference. She is featured on recordings with David Hickman, Robert Spring, and Brad Edwards.