*Alphabetical order
Angelos Angelides (CY)
Born in Nicosia, he begαn clarinet and theory lessons at the age of 9. Was a member of the Cyprus State Youth Orchestra and the then Cyprus State Chamber Orchestra. Pursued further clarinet lessons at the Sychrono Odeio of Thessaloniki under Kosmas Papadopoulos. He holds a Degree in Music Studies from the Faculty of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the LRSM title and received Master classes from Petko Radev and Spiros Mourikis amongst others. He holds the position of Sub-principal at the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra since 2003. He has given recitals in Thessaloniki (1998, 2004) and Nicosia (2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2009). Angelos teaches clarinet at music schools in Nicosia and is currently appointed adjunct faculty at the European University Cyprus. Added to his educational work with the clarinet and chamber music activities, he has been participating in all major musical events of the island from a very young age, collaborating with household names and foreign artists alike. Since 2017 he became a Marca Reeds Artist. He composed and arranged the music for the theatre shows “Out of the blue(m)”and “Performance”, a production which represented Cyprus in the International Festival for Experimental theatre in Cairo 2005 and Spain 2006. He is a founding member of the Musicians’ Guild of the Cyprus State Orchestra.
Lara Diaz (ESP)
Lara Díaz es una activa solista y profesora de clarinete y clarinete bajo. Ha actuado en importantes festivales y auditorios de Europa, América y Asia (EEUU, China, Austria, Hungría, Suiza, Bélgica, Portugal, Perú, Mongolia, Alemania, Corea, Canadá, Brasil, Italia, Eslovenia...). Con el Trío Contrastes desarrolla una importante labor de difusión de la música contemporánea, colaborando estrechamente con compositores españoles y extranjeros, y estrenando obras especialmente compuestas para el Trío y para ella. Con The Formica’s Age Duo contribuye a la expansión del repertorio para esta formación (violín y clarinete bajo) de una forma más dinámica, involucrándose en el proceso creativo mediante el contacto directo con los compositores, y grabando una serie de videos, lo que hace aún más especial e innovador a este proyecto. Es frecuentemente invitada a impartir masterclasses, formar parte de jurados internacionales y a participar como intérprete en festivales internacionales de clarinete (ClarinetFest 2018, 2019 y 2020, 5º ,6º y 7º European Clarinet Festival en Bélgica- , Italia, y Portugal, IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Clarinetistas, Perú, Dream Clarinet Academy, Baoding- China, 18º Encontro Internacional de Clarinete, Lisboa 2017, International Festival “Il mondo d’il clarinetto” de Accademia Italiana del Clarinetto, 2º Simposio para Clarinetistas – UNESP 2015 en Sao Paulo, Brasil, ClarMeet Porto ’16, ’17 y 18, VII y VIII Taller para Jóvenes Clarinetistas de Clariperú-Lima, 2018 y 2019…). Es la representante de España en la Asociación Internacional de Clarinete (I.C.A.) y de la International Bass Clarinet Association (I.B.C.A), y pertenece a la junta directiva de la European Clarinet Association (E.C.A.) Forma parte del cuarteto internacional de clarinetes bajos “Four New Brothers” con el que contribuye a la creación y divulgación del repertorio para esta formación. Es profesora en el Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Salamanca, y dirige la Sección de vientos de la Orquesta Sinfónica "Ciudad de Salamanca". Desde 2003 dirige e imparte el Curso de clarinete y música de cámara “Antonio Romero”. Estudió en el Conservatorio Superior de Música de Salamanca, donde posteriormente cursó estudios de posgrado, y en Italia, Suiza y Bélgica con clarinetistas como Antony Pay, W. Boeykens, Sabine Meyer o C. Riera. También ha realizado estudios de doctorado en Literatura Española e Hispanoamericana en la Universidad de Salamanca. Es artista de clarinetes Royal Global y abrazaderas Silverstein.
George Georgiou (CY)
Hailed for his energetic and inspirational performances, the Cypriot clarinetist George Georgiou enjoys a career as a classical and contemporary clarinetist. He appeared in many solo concerts and recitals in Europe, Middle East and USA. He collaborated with some prominent musicians such as the legendary cellist Rohan de Saram, the Prazak Quartet, the Apple Hill String Quartet, the Chilingirian String Quartet and he appeared as a soloist with the Commandaria Orchestra and Moscow Virtuosi under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov. In his research for new repertoire, George started commissioning works for clarinet and so far he collaborated with the most dominant composers from Cyprus and abroad. He premiered several works featuring the clarinet with most of them being dedicated to him. He is a member of Georgiou Georgieva Duo, Lyrical Noise Ensemble, Evohe Wind Quintet, Chronos Contemporary Music Ensemble. He holds the position of clarinet professor at the University of Nicosia. He is the artistic director of Music at the Museum Concert Series as well as the founder of Cyprus Clarinet Studio. George is a graduate from City University, London, where he studied clarinet with Julian Farrell and Joy Farel at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is also a MBA graduate from the Neapolis University Paphos, Cyprus and a member of Mensa Cyprus. His busy profile gained him an international recognition and he became a Silverstein Ligature Artist and a Marca Reeds Artis. He was recently appointed as the Cyprus Chair of the International Clarinet Association.
Abdul-Aziz Hussein (CRO)
Abdul-Aziz Hussein (1992.) graduated in clarinet at the Zagreb Academy of Music in the class of Davorin Brozić and CRR de Versailles in class of Philppe Cuper. He started his musical education in the Musical School Zlatko Baloković in Zaprešić, and continued in the Musical High School Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb, where he graduated in 2011 in the class of Bruno Philipp. Later that year he enrolled the study of clarinet at the Zagreb Academy of Music in the class of Milko Pravdić. During studies he was a part of international exchange of students at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana in the class of Tadej Kenig. He is the winner of three first prizes (2006, 2008 and 2010) at the Croatian competition of pupils and students of music and dance. In 2010 he participated at the competition to choose a representative of Croatia for Eurovision competition of young musicians in Vienna. In 2015 he won the first prize in the highest category of clarinettists at the International competition Woodwind&Brass in Varaždin. In 2016 he won the 5th competition of young musicians Papandopulo. He won the Dean’s award for achieved successes during studying at the Zagreb Academy of Music. He held numerous recitals at home and abroad, and performed solo with the Symphony Orchestra of Croatian Television and the Symphony Wind Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Croatia. He participated in many masterclasses held by renowned musicians and educationalists like Guy Deplus, Philippe Cuper, Mate Bekavac, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Ricardo Morales, Antonio Saiote, Jože Kotar, Radovan Cavallin, Sharon Kam, Nicholas Cox and Chen Halevi.
Tim Ieraci (UK)
Tim is an Australian clarinettist living in London where he is Principal Clarinet of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. He completed a Master of Performance at the Royal College of Music in 2019, with the support of the Wilkins-Mackerras Award and Sir Arthur Bliss Memorial Award. At the RCM, Tim performed New York Counterpoint for Steve Reich’s residency, and in his final recital he performed alongside clarinettist Emma Johnson.
Tadej Kenig (SI)
Born in Slovenia in 1978, Tadej Kenig studied at the University of Ljubljana, Academy of Music in the class of Slavko Goričar and the Musikakademie der Stadt Basel in the class of François Benda gaining his diplomas in 2001 and 2004 respectively.
His professional orchestral career began in 2001 when he was engaged as of the Neues Orchester Basel. In 2003 he won the Principal Clarinet audition in the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Balet Ljubljana, where he is still holding his position as a principal clarinetist.
He has won a number of awards at various competitions, prominent among them being first prizes in the categories of chamber music and clarinet at the Slovenian National Competition for Young Musicians in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001, as well as the first prize in the category of solo clarinet at the Marco Fiorindo International Competition in the Italian city of Turin in 2002. Mr. Kenig has also received the Prešern Award of Ljubljana University for special achievement in music.
He has given successful performances in Slovenia and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician playing with Adriars Trio and Artvento Wind Quintet. A list of countries where he played includes Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, India, Croatia, and others. He has played with the Slovenian Philharmonic, Basle Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Slovenian National Theatre in Ljubljana, Ensemble Cantus under the batons of renowned conductors, such as Marko Letonja, Stefan Sanderling, Othmar Maga, Loris Voltolini, Berislav Šipuš… He was involved in projects of contemporary composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Heinz Holliger, Jürg Henneberger, Jürg Wyttenbach, … His brilliant and skillful performances have inspired a number of Slovenian composers to dedicate their compositions to him.
Diskography: »Dialogue de l’ombre double« (2007, Cantus d.o.o., Zagreb HDS), »Molly Brallaghan, Quintet Artvento and friends« (2008, Whoopee Records, Nemčija), »Vivid Air« (2010, Aucourant Records, ZDA), »Alojz Ajdič: Skladbe za klarinet« (2010, KD ADRIARS, Si), »Pushing Forward« (2013, KD ADRIARS, Si), »Artvento Atelje« (2012, KD ADRIARS, Si)
He is professor of clarinet at the Ljubljana (Slovenia) Academy of music and a guest professor at the Univesity of Novi Sad. He has taught on numerous moasterclasses and workshops at prestigious Universities such as Musikakademie der Stadt Basel, Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, UDK Berlin…among others.
His professional orchestral career began in 2001 when he was engaged as of the Neues Orchester Basel. In 2003 he won the Principal Clarinet audition in the Slovenian National Theatre Opera and Balet Ljubljana, where he is still holding his position as a principal clarinetist.
He has won a number of awards at various competitions, prominent among them being first prizes in the categories of chamber music and clarinet at the Slovenian National Competition for Young Musicians in 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2001, as well as the first prize in the category of solo clarinet at the Marco Fiorindo International Competition in the Italian city of Turin in 2002. Mr. Kenig has also received the Prešern Award of Ljubljana University for special achievement in music.
He has given successful performances in Slovenia and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician playing with Adriars Trio and Artvento Wind Quintet. A list of countries where he played includes Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, India, Croatia, and others. He has played with the Slovenian Philharmonic, Basle Symphony Orchestra, Bratislava Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of the Slovenian National Theatre in Ljubljana, Ensemble Cantus under the batons of renowned conductors, such as Marko Letonja, Stefan Sanderling, Othmar Maga, Loris Voltolini, Berislav Šipuš… He was involved in projects of contemporary composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Heinz Holliger, Jürg Henneberger, Jürg Wyttenbach, … His brilliant and skillful performances have inspired a number of Slovenian composers to dedicate their compositions to him.
Diskography: »Dialogue de l’ombre double« (2007, Cantus d.o.o., Zagreb HDS), »Molly Brallaghan, Quintet Artvento and friends« (2008, Whoopee Records, Nemčija), »Vivid Air« (2010, Aucourant Records, ZDA), »Alojz Ajdič: Skladbe za klarinet« (2010, KD ADRIARS, Si), »Pushing Forward« (2013, KD ADRIARS, Si), »Artvento Atelje« (2012, KD ADRIARS, Si)
He is professor of clarinet at the Ljubljana (Slovenia) Academy of music and a guest professor at the Univesity of Novi Sad. He has taught on numerous moasterclasses and workshops at prestigious Universities such as Musikakademie der Stadt Basel, Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana, UDK Berlin…among others.
Georg Kühner (DE)
Georg Kühner from Germany is a renowned expert at creating reeds from tubes and has presented, lectured, and has a book coming on the topic. Specialist for historical reeds. http://klarinettentipps.de/Georg/Muhlfeldblatt.html Georg Kühner is a clarinet and saxophone player who is active in various orchestras and chamber music groups in the South-West of Germany. He is well known for his solo playing at art events and happenings. Active member in the clarinet choir of the German clarinet Society. Specialist for reed-making and adjusting. Playing on German System Wurlitzer clarinets with Paulus & Schuler barrel.
Nicolai Pfeffer (DE)
A consummate performer and scholar, Nicolai Pfeffer is hailed by the press for his personal blend of fluid technique, his colorful tone, and unique musical voice. Even as a student this young musician was described by the legendary Viennese clarinettist Alfred Prinz as “an excellent clarinettist and a sensitive musician—one who plays with both technical command of the instrument and captivating musicality.”
Mr. Pfeffer is the recipient of many prizes, scholarships and grants, his orchestral experience includes tenures with the Cologne Opera, the Kammermphilharmonie Bremen, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra and the Bamberg Symphony. He has performed in major concert halls in Germany including Munich's prestigious Herkulessaal, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Cologne Philharmonie, and at many high-profile festivals in Europe, the United States, South America and the Middle East. He is also a passionate soloist and chamber musician, and for many years has performed extensively with the pianist Felix Wahl. Mr. Pfeffer made his solo debut with Milan’s La Scala Orchestra under Maestro Fabio Luisi in the summer of 2018
The same passion and expertise that drives Mr. Pfeffer’s performances also inspires his musicological research and teaching activities. He is a highly-sought instructor at the Grünwald School of Music in Munich, and serves on the clarinet faculties of the prestigious Cologne Hochschule für Musik, the Pre-CollegeCologne, the Hanover Hochschule für Musik, Tanz und Medien, the Bremen Hochschule für Künste. He has given masterclasses and lectures at universities and conservatories in Cologne, Vienna, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Michigan, and many others.
Nicolai Pfeffer is highly involved in the development of new scholarly editions for clarinet chamber music and solo literature. The fruits of these labours are manifested in critical editions published by G. Henle Verlag, Breitkopf & Härtel, Bärenreiter, and Edition Peters, which have collectively received high praise from experts for their exemplary textual criticism.
Rounding off his wide-ranging activities are masterclasses for the Baremboim-Said Foundation and radio and television broadcasts for Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Hessischer Rundfunk. Nicolai Pfeffer is a proud Silverstein and Schwenk & Seggelke performing artist.
Mr. Pfeffer is the recipient of many prizes, scholarships and grants, his orchestral experience includes tenures with the Cologne Opera, the Kammermphilharmonie Bremen, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra and the Bamberg Symphony. He has performed in major concert halls in Germany including Munich's prestigious Herkulessaal, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Cologne Philharmonie, and at many high-profile festivals in Europe, the United States, South America and the Middle East. He is also a passionate soloist and chamber musician, and for many years has performed extensively with the pianist Felix Wahl. Mr. Pfeffer made his solo debut with Milan’s La Scala Orchestra under Maestro Fabio Luisi in the summer of 2018
The same passion and expertise that drives Mr. Pfeffer’s performances also inspires his musicological research and teaching activities. He is a highly-sought instructor at the Grünwald School of Music in Munich, and serves on the clarinet faculties of the prestigious Cologne Hochschule für Musik, the Pre-CollegeCologne, the Hanover Hochschule für Musik, Tanz und Medien, the Bremen Hochschule für Künste. He has given masterclasses and lectures at universities and conservatories in Cologne, Vienna, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Michigan, and many others.
Nicolai Pfeffer is highly involved in the development of new scholarly editions for clarinet chamber music and solo literature. The fruits of these labours are manifested in critical editions published by G. Henle Verlag, Breitkopf & Härtel, Bärenreiter, and Edition Peters, which have collectively received high praise from experts for their exemplary textual criticism.
Rounding off his wide-ranging activities are masterclasses for the Baremboim-Said Foundation and radio and television broadcasts for Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, and Hessischer Rundfunk. Nicolai Pfeffer is a proud Silverstein and Schwenk & Seggelke performing artist.
Franck Russo (FR)
Born in 1986, the French clarinetist Franck Russo is Solo clarinet at the Toulon Provence Méditerranée Opéra Symphonic Orchestra, since 2015. He started his professional curriculum at the Rueil-Malmaison Conservatory. Under the supervision of Florent Heau. He won the conservatory first Prize, a Certificate of Excellence and a chamber music’s First Prize in Michel Moragues’ class. He was unanimously admitted at the Paris CNSM in Michel Arrignon’s class, reputed to be Master of the French School. There Franck graduated with honours alongside Jérôme Julien-Laferrière. He also has studied with Yehuda Gilad in the USA, and with the greatest french solists clarinetists among which Philippe Berrod, Pascal Moragues, Jérôme Comte, Bruno Martinez and Paul Meyer.
Franck is Laureate of different foundations prizes (such as Banque Populaire and Meyer’s foundation prize), as well as numerous international competitions: Prague Spring International Music Competition in the Czech Republic, Concours Debussy in Paris, Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition in Denmark, Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition in both Rouen and Tokyo, Musicales du Centre. In 2012, 2014 and 2015, Franck won multiple prizes at the First International Jacques Lancelot Competition: Third Prize winner, he also received the Audience Award and the Prize for ‘young talent of the Nocturnes of the Rouen Cathedral’ in 2012. Two years later, while the competition was taking place in Tokyo, he received a Special prize for the best interpretation of Claude Debussy’s Rhapsody. Finally, in 2015, in Prague, he received the third prize of this prestigious competition. He performed as a soloist in Mozart, Françaix, Copland, Weber concertos and also with piano and chamber music recitals.
As a music chamber passionate, he attended Daria Hovora’s chamber music classes in sonata with the piano player Pierre-Yves Hodique. This duet won the Grand Prix (First Prize) at the Musical Forum of Normandy and the First Prize at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP) in 2009. Among many other concerts and music festivals, they were invited at the famous radio programme Plaisirs d’amour hosted by Frédéric Lodéon on France Musique.
Franck also got involved in a clarinet quartet, under the guidance of Michel Moragues, David Walter and Henry Fourès. For this quartet, he created various arrangements of classical composers inspired by different folklore cultures, particularly from Eastern Europe. The quartet won the First Prize with honours of the 26th European Competition of Musical ensembles FNAPEC in Paris and a Master’s Degree in Paris CNSM. They will release their first album very soon. In 2020 Franck will record his first album "Mein Frühling" around Schubert and Schumann for clarinets, basset horn, voice and piano for the label Klarthe Records.
Furthermore, Franck was a member of the Orchestra of the Laureates of the Conservatoire from 2012 to 2015, as well as a clarinet and bass clarinet solo in the French Youth Orchestra in 2007 and 2008. Presently, he collaborates with major European orchestras (such as Flanders Symphonic Orchestra, National de France, Opéra de Marseille, Régional de Cannes, Secession Orchestra, Symphonique de Bretagne, Pau Pays de Bearn, Picardie…), directed by Alain Altinoglu, Dmitri Jurowski, Dennis Russell Davies, José Luis Gomez, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Arie Van Beek, Rani Calderon, Valerio Galli, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Serge Baudo, Krystof Penderecki, Olari Elts, Emmanuel Krivine…
Franck is finally a member of ‘La Compagnie de 7h10’ which gathers performance of arts, music, theatre, poetry and tales. They participated in the OFF Festival in Avignon 2011 and 2012. They have performed over 100 shows of ‘Contes de l’Isba a musical travel in Eastern Europe’ including the next ones in the Komidi Festival in La Reunion. The company is currently working on a new show based on Olivier Messiaen ‘Quartet for the End of Time’.
Franck is Laureate of different foundations prizes (such as Banque Populaire and Meyer’s foundation prize), as well as numerous international competitions: Prague Spring International Music Competition in the Czech Republic, Concours Debussy in Paris, Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition in Denmark, Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition in both Rouen and Tokyo, Musicales du Centre. In 2012, 2014 and 2015, Franck won multiple prizes at the First International Jacques Lancelot Competition: Third Prize winner, he also received the Audience Award and the Prize for ‘young talent of the Nocturnes of the Rouen Cathedral’ in 2012. Two years later, while the competition was taking place in Tokyo, he received a Special prize for the best interpretation of Claude Debussy’s Rhapsody. Finally, in 2015, in Prague, he received the third prize of this prestigious competition. He performed as a soloist in Mozart, Françaix, Copland, Weber concertos and also with piano and chamber music recitals.
As a music chamber passionate, he attended Daria Hovora’s chamber music classes in sonata with the piano player Pierre-Yves Hodique. This duet won the Grand Prix (First Prize) at the Musical Forum of Normandy and the First Prize at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSMDP) in 2009. Among many other concerts and music festivals, they were invited at the famous radio programme Plaisirs d’amour hosted by Frédéric Lodéon on France Musique.
Franck also got involved in a clarinet quartet, under the guidance of Michel Moragues, David Walter and Henry Fourès. For this quartet, he created various arrangements of classical composers inspired by different folklore cultures, particularly from Eastern Europe. The quartet won the First Prize with honours of the 26th European Competition of Musical ensembles FNAPEC in Paris and a Master’s Degree in Paris CNSM. They will release their first album very soon. In 2020 Franck will record his first album "Mein Frühling" around Schubert and Schumann for clarinets, basset horn, voice and piano for the label Klarthe Records.
Furthermore, Franck was a member of the Orchestra of the Laureates of the Conservatoire from 2012 to 2015, as well as a clarinet and bass clarinet solo in the French Youth Orchestra in 2007 and 2008. Presently, he collaborates with major European orchestras (such as Flanders Symphonic Orchestra, National de France, Opéra de Marseille, Régional de Cannes, Secession Orchestra, Symphonique de Bretagne, Pau Pays de Bearn, Picardie…), directed by Alain Altinoglu, Dmitri Jurowski, Dennis Russell Davies, José Luis Gomez, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Arie Van Beek, Rani Calderon, Valerio Galli, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Serge Baudo, Krystof Penderecki, Olari Elts, Emmanuel Krivine…
Franck is finally a member of ‘La Compagnie de 7h10’ which gathers performance of arts, music, theatre, poetry and tales. They participated in the OFF Festival in Avignon 2011 and 2012. They have performed over 100 shows of ‘Contes de l’Isba a musical travel in Eastern Europe’ including the next ones in the Komidi Festival in La Reunion. The company is currently working on a new show based on Olivier Messiaen ‘Quartet for the End of Time’.
Alex Simu (RO)
Born in Romania, Simu followed a music education from a young age. In pursue of an international music career, he moved to the Netherlands at age 22, where he began his studies at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, obtaining a Bachelor degree in Jazz Saxophone, followed by a Masters degree from the Amsterdam Conservatory. After completing his studies, Alex Simu co-founded the Dutch-based quartet Arifa. Their debut album Beyond Babylon was released in 2010, followed by Anatolian Alchemy in 2012. Both albums were awarded the Best World Music Release of the year in the Netherlands, and distinguished with 5 stars by various publications. Also a film music composer, Alex Simu has worked since 2010 on a great number of award-winning international film productions. In 2016, he was awarded with the Golden Calf by the Dutch Film Academy for the Best Music of Beyond Sleep.
Since 2015, Simu is the main subject teacher at the Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam within the jazz and world music departments. He is active in the field of organology and clarinet synthesis, and has innovated the tenor clarinet, as well as brought into contemporary use the alto clarinet, clarinet d’amour, and the bass clarinet d’amour.
Active on the jazz and world music scene since 1999, Alex Simu performed and toured professionally in 46 countries over 5 continents, and shared the stage with important figures such as Alvin Queen, Brian Lynch, Benny Golson, Bennie Wallace, Peter Herbolzheimer, Mari Boine, Jorge Reyes, Naseer Shamma, Ghalia Benali, Aynur Dogan, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, and many others.
Since 2015, Simu is the main subject teacher at the Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam within the jazz and world music departments. He is active in the field of organology and clarinet synthesis, and has innovated the tenor clarinet, as well as brought into contemporary use the alto clarinet, clarinet d’amour, and the bass clarinet d’amour.
Active on the jazz and world music scene since 1999, Alex Simu performed and toured professionally in 46 countries over 5 continents, and shared the stage with important figures such as Alvin Queen, Brian Lynch, Benny Golson, Bennie Wallace, Peter Herbolzheimer, Mari Boine, Jorge Reyes, Naseer Shamma, Ghalia Benali, Aynur Dogan, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, and many others.
Aleksandar Tasić (SER)
Aleksandar Tasić, one of the most prominent clarinetists of his generation graduated and postgraduated clarinet at The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad. He mastered his skills at the master classes directed by famous clar- inetists such as Ricardo Morales, Michel Arrignon and Jim Ognibene (bass clarinetist-Metropolitan Opera of New York). He won first prizes in the competition of Yugoslav pupils and students of music, but also I prize in the competition of Jeuness Musicale ’Laureats of Orpheus’ in 1998. The University in Novi Sad, Serbia awarded him ‘Exceptional Award’ for his artistic activities. He performed as a soloist with Novosibirsk Philharmonic orchestra, Symphony orchestra of the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Art ensemble Stanislav Binički, with Belgrade string orchestra Dušan Skovran, Novi Sad Chamber orchestra, Vojvodina Symphony Orchestra, Isidora Žebel- jan Orchestra, string orchestra Camerata Panonnica, Montenegro Sym- phony Orchestra and had concerts in his home country and around Eu- rope. He performed at some of the most important festivals in Serbia and abroad, such as NOMUS, BEMUS, NIMUS, International Tribune of Composers, Les Classiques de Villars (Switzerland), Verbier Festival & Academy (Switzerland), Y4Y - Bangkok (Thailand), Schloss Elmau (Ger- many), Kotor-Art (Montenegro), Ljubljana Festival (Slovenia), Granada Music Festival (Spain), Mostar Spring Festival (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Siena Summer Session for Music (Italy), Bregenzer Fest- spiele (Austria), A-Tempo (Montenegro) Ohrid Summer Festival ( Mace- donija)...etc. In the period between 2000 and 2006, Aleksandar Tasić performed as a clarinetist with Verbier Festival Orchestra (Switzerland) in numerous fa- mous concert halls with world known conductors such as James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano, Wolfgang Sawalisch, Valery Gergiev, Clau- dio Vandelli and many others. From 2006 onwards, he is a solo clarinetist of Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, lead by maestro Gabor Takacs-Nagy. He has been a coach for clarinet and woodwinds of Verbier Festival Ju- nior Orchestra since was launched in 2013 and this orchestra evolved into one of the most intensive artist training programmes available to young musicians today.
He made recordings for TV and radio stations both in the country and abroad (RTS, BBC, ART TV, RAI, Netherlands Radio 4, Mezzo and Medici TV). He serves as a Regular professor of Chamber music at the Academy of Arts, University of Novi Sad, and Associate professor for clarinet at FILUM, University of Kragujevac, both in Serbia. He has been playing with a guitarist Zoran Krajišnik in chamber duo since 2007. and recorded a CD “Ben Ritmato et Deciso” with music for clarinet and guitar. Aleksandar Tasić is the artist of a famous clarinet brands “Vandoren” and “MARCA” from France, and since 2017. he become clarinet artist of “Royal musical” (www.royal-musical.com) playing on their top model Soloist model clarinets.