Layla Allen is a London based clarinettist and multi-instrumentalist. Most recently, she played clarinet in the new musical Gatsby, at Southwark Playhouse. In 2020 she joined the 22-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra playing reed 2 for Lucie Jones Live at the Adelphi.

A Trinity College London Scholar, she graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with Distinction in a Master in Music Performance in Clarinet, Theatre Doubling. As an integral part of her course, Layla's studies extended to the clarinet, saxophone, flute and bassoon and she has performed in masterclasses with saxophonist Tim McAllister, ENO principal clarinettist Barnaby Robson and bassoonist Emily Hultmark.

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Layla particularly enjoys performing in pit orchestras for a variety of shows. Musical Theatre highlights include:  The Sound of Music, Bye Bye Birdie, Cabaret, The Wind in the Willows, Grease, Bugsy Malone, Made in Dagenham, Crazy For You, Oliver!, Annie and Gigi.

Layla is also an accomplished teacher with a Certificate for Music Educators and she loves the creativity and unexpected surprises that children bring to music lessons. Currently, Layla works for Lewisham Music Service, previously she taught for Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries and Derbyshire Music Partnership. She has a keen interest for orchestral education projects and has delighted in the joy the Halle's 'Now Hear This' projects have brought children in her classes.

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As part of her final year dissertation, Layla drew on her teaching experience to create a unique beginner clarinet book: So, You Want to Play the... Clarinet – Book One. A year on and it is now self-published and available here. The book was created for the modern teacher and learner and encapsulates what makes a well-rounded beginner musician, it includes exercises not commonly found in other books, such as aural skills, improvisation, learning music by ear, duets and piano accompaniments.