Channing Lynn

For Channing Lynn, music has always been more than entertainment. It has been a source of confidence, adventure, connection, and discovery.

A classically trained musician and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Channing has spent decades developing a musical vocabulary that crosses genres and instruments. Today, she is a familiar presence on Key West stages and the driving force behind the Key West Jazz Society.

But her path to the island’s music scene began with one instrument: the clarinet.

Finding Her Instrument

Born in Pensacola, Florida, Channing Lynn Griggs discovered the clarinet at age 10. Inspired by the music of Peter and the Wolf, she began studying the instrument seriously.

Growing up in Virginia, Channing immersed herself in classical music. She took private lessons, performed in school bands and orchestras, and competed in musical competitions.

The discipline gave her a strong technical foundation. Later, Key West would teach her something entirely different.

A Musical Adventure in Key West

Channing arrived in Key West with little money and began busking on Duval Street.

It was a dramatic change from the structured world of classical music. On the island, she met musicians who approached their craft with freedom, personality, and improvisation.

One of those people was Key West artist and musician David Wegman.

Channing and Wegman became sailing and musical partners. They spent years traveling through the Caribbean, playing music and embracing a more spontaneous way of life.

Along the way, Channing began expanding beyond her classical roots. She experimented with improvisation and learned additional instruments. The experience helped transform her from a classically trained clarinetist into a far more versatile performer.

From Adventure Back to School

After years of traveling and performing, Channing returned to formal music education.

She earned an Associate of Arts in Music from Broward College and a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Florida State University.

Her education brought another dimension to her understanding of music. Performance could entertain an audience, but music could also create connections, support people, and influence how they feel.

That perspective remains part of the musician and performer she is today.

One Musician, Many Instruments

Calling Channing a clarinetist only tells part of the story.

Over the years, she has become an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. Her repertoire includes clarinet, saxophone, flute, keyboards, guitar, banjo, and upright bass.

Her musical range is just as broad.

Jazz and swing may be at the center of many performances, but Channing moves comfortably through different styles and eras. That versatility allows her to perform in intimate settings as easily as she can lead a full ensemble.

The Key West Jazz Society

Channing eventually brought her experience and love of jazz together through the Key West Jazz Society.

As its driving force and musical director, she has helped develop a flexible ensemble that can range from a small group to a large band. Its repertoire reaches from vintage swing and jazz standards to unexpected interpretations of familiar pop songs.

Channing has also helped create special projects such as The Heart Starters, a Key West Jazz Society ensemble dedicated to music from the Harry S. Truman era.

The work reflects one of her greatest strengths: respecting musical tradition without treating it as something that belongs only in the past.

An Award-Winning Key West Musician

Channing’s contribution to Key West music has earned recognition from the local music community.

She was named Instrumentalist of the Year at the Key West Music Awards in both 2023 and 2025. The Key West Jazz Society was also named Jazz Act of the Year in 2025.

Yet awards tell only part of her story.

From a 10-year-old discovering the clarinet to a musician busking on Duval Street, sailing the Caribbean, studying music therapy, and leading jazz ensembles in Key West, Channing’s career has been shaped by a willingness to keep exploring.

For Channing Lynn, music has never been one instrument, one genre, or one destination. It’s an ongoing journey — and Key West has become one of its most important stages.