This article lists notable

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

s who have played the

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

Classical clarinetists

Laver Bariu Laver Bariu (; May 2, 1929 in Përmet – January 26, 2014), was an Albanians, Albanian folk List of clarinetists, clarinetist and singer. He led his musical group for over 40 years and had an immense influence in teaching new generations the Përme ...

Ernest Ačkun Ernest Ačkun (Ернест Ачкун) (March 27, 1930 – September 28, 2001) was a Yugoslavia, Yugoslav clarinetist. Early life Ernest Ačkun was born in Hrastnik, Slovenia, which was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He completed his s ...

Luís Afonso Luís Afonso (also known as Montanha) is a Brazilian clarinetist and bass clarinetist. Afonso studied clarinet and bass clarinet at the Rotterdam Conservatoire under Walter Boeykens and Henri Bok. He has taught at São Paulo University since 1992 ...

Cristiano Alves Cristiano Alves is a Brazilian clarinetist. Alves was born in Rio de Janeiro and was taught by José Carlos Castro. He holds a Master's degree from the School of Music at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (UFRG). He is first clarinet of the Orque ...

Michel Arrignon Michel Arrignon is a French clarinetist and professor of clarinet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid. Arrignon studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique ...

Dimitri Ashkenazy Dimitri Thor Ashkenazy (born October 8, 1969 in New York City) is an Icelandic clarinetist living in Switzerland. He is the son of pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy and has toured Europe with him, as well as performing under him with the ...

* Kinan Azmeh * Alexander Bader *

Carl Baermann Carl Baermann (24 October 1810 – 23 May 1885) was a clarinetist and composer from Munich, Germany. Life and career He was the son of noted clarinet virtuoso Heinrich Baermann and Helene Harlas. As a child he was taught the clarinet and the basse ...

Heinrich Baermann Heinrich Joseph Baermann (also spelled Bärmann; 14 February 1784 – 11 June 1847) was a German clarinet virtuoso of the Romantic era who is generally considered as being not only an outstanding performer of his time, but highly influential in ...

* József Balogh * Cristo Barrios * Luigi Bassi * Simeon Bellison *

Kálmán Berkes Kálmán Berkes is a Hungarian clarinetist. Berkes was born in Budapest on May 8, 1952. He graduated from the Budapest Liszt Music Academy in 1972. He won second place at the Geneva International Music Competition in 1974, and his Opera Wind Quint ...

* Julian Bliss * Kalman Bloch * Walter Boeykens * Henri Bok * Daniel Bonade * Tara Bouman *

Naftule Brandwein Naftule Brandwein, or Naftuli Brandwine, ( yi, נפתלי בראַנדװײַן, 1884–1963) was an Austrian-born Jewish American Klezmer musician, clarinetist, bandleader and recording artist active from the 1910s to the 1940s. Along with ...

Shirley Brill Shirley Brill ( he, שירלי בריל; born 1982) is an Israeli clarinetist living in Germany. Education and career Born in Petah Tikva, Israel, Brill received her musical education in Israel from Yitzhak Katzap at the Petah Tikva Conserv ...

Bruno Brun Bruno Brun (1910–1978) was a Yugoslav clarinetist and professor at the Belgrade Music Academy. Education Brun was born in Hrastnik, Austro-Hungary, now Slovenia. He graduated from the Belgrade Music Academy in 1945 and continued his education in ...

Jack Brymer John Alexander Brymer OBE (27 January 191515 September 2003) was an English clarinettist. ''The Times'' called him "the leading clarinettist of his generation, perhaps of the century". Goodwin, Noël"Jack B nimble, Jack B quick" ''The Times' ...

Lars Kristian Brynildsen Lars Kristian Holm Brynildsen (October 8, 1954 - August 17, 2005) was a Norwegian clarinetist. He was principal clarinet of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra from 1979 until his death in 2005 and was a member of the Bergen Woodwind Quintet for 25 y ...

* Nicola Bulfone *

Ovanir Buosi Ovanir Buosi is a Brazilian clarinetist. He plays with the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. Early life and education Buosi was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He studied with Sergio Burgani at the Sao Paulo State University, graduating in 1997. He ...

Sérgio Burgani Sérgio Burgani is a Brazilian clarinetist. Burgani teaches clarinet at São Paulo State University. He is a member of Sujeito a Guincho, a clarinet sextet based in São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for ' Saint Paul') is the most popul ...

Louis Cahuzac Louis (Jean Baptiste) Cahuzac (12 July 1880 – 9 August 1960) was a French people, French clarinetist and composer. Cahuzac was an outstanding performer and one of the few clarinetists who made a career as a soloist in the first part of the ...

* David Campbell * James Campbell *

Alessandro Carbonare Alessandro Carbonare is an Italian clarinetist. Carbonare started on E clarinet at age 5. At age 21 he became co-principal of the Lyon Opera Orchestra, and later joined the Orchestre National de France. has been the principal clarinetist with the ...

Ernesto Cavallini Ernesto Cavallini (30 August 1807 – 1874) was an Italian clarinetist and composer. Born in Milan, Cavallini studied at the Milan Conservatory under Carulli. He performed at the Conservatoire Concerts in 1830 with his brother, violinist Eugenio ...

Florent Charpentier Florent Charpentier (born 1982) is a French clarinetist. Charpentier began playing clarinet at age 8 under Philippe Moinet. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris under Michel Arrignon and Pascal Moraguès, graduating in 2000. He then received ...

Jonathan Cohler Jonathan Cohler (born June 19, 1959) is an American classical clarinetist, conductor, music educator and record producer. Early career Jonathan Cohler graduated from Harvard University in 1980 with a degree in physics. He studied clarinet with P ...

Larry Combs Larry Combs (born December 31, 1939) is an American clarinetist and educator. Early life and education Combs was born in South Charleston, West Virginia. He received a bachelor of music degree with distinction as well as the Performer's Certif ...

Jean-Noël Crocq Jean-Noël Crocq (born 15 March 1948 in Rennes) is a French classical clarinetist. Crocq studied at the Conservatoire de Paris. He created ''Le clarinettiste débutant'', a book of sheet music for beginning clarinetists. In 1974, he became the sol ...

* Philippe Cuper *

Gervase de Peyer Gervase Alan de Peyer (11 April 1926 – 4 February 2017) was an English clarinettist and conductor. Professional career Gervase Alan de Peyer was born in London, the eldest of three children of Everard Esmé Vivian de Peyer, and his wife, Edith ...

Hans Deinzer Hans Deinzer (14 January 1934 – 26 February 2020) was a clarinetist and clarinet teacher who taught at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover for thirty years, and retired in 1996. Biography Born in , Deinzer received his first clar ...

Guy Deplus Guy Gaston Simon Deplus (29 August 1924 – 14 January 2020) was a French clarinetist. Biography Deplus was born in Vieux-Condé and studied clarinet at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he would later become a professor of clarinet, and receive ...

* Charles Draper *

Stanley Drucker Stanley Drucker (February 4, 1929 – December 19, 2022) was an American clarinetist. For nearly five decades, he was principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic. According to Guinness World Records, he achieved the longest career as a c ...

Eli Eban Eli Eban is an Israeli-American clarinetist and son of the late Israeli diplomat Abba Eban. Education Eli Eban was born in New York City and received his early musical training in Israel, studying the clarinet with Richard Lesser and Yona Et ...

* Anton Eberst *

Julian Egerton Julian Egerton (24 August 1848 – 22 January 1945) was a British classical clarinetist. Egerton was born in London. Despite contracting polio at the age of eight, he went on to have a lengthy, productive career, performing until the age of ...

* Fredrik Fors *

Alan Frank Alan Clifford Frank (10 October 1910 – 23 June 1994), was a music publisher, clarinetist and composer, who headed the Oxford University Press Music Department between 1954 and 1975. He was married to the composer Phyllis Tate. Frank grew up in ...

* Rupert Fankhauser * Thomas Friedli * Mariano Frogioni * Martin Fröst * Wenzel Fuchs * Peter Geisler * Anthony Gigliotti * Bruno di Girolamo *

Johannes Gmeinder Johannes Gmeinder (born 1976 in Konstanz) is a German clarinetist and academic. Gmeinder studied clarinet at the ''Musikhochschule'' in Trossingen and Berlin. In 1996, he won a scholarship from the Orchesterakademie of the Berlin Philharmonic Orch ...

Jose Gonzalez Granero José González Granero (born February 11, 1985) is a Spanish clarinetist and composer. Since 2010, he is the Principal Clarinet for the San Francisco Opera. Early life and education Granero was born in Iznatoraf, Spain to a family of musicia ...

Ante Grgin Ante Grgin (born 1945) is a Croatian clarinetist and composer. Education Ante Grgin was born in Kaštel Novi, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia, and started his early training at the School of Music in Split. He completed his undergraduate (1969) and ...

* Alan Hacker * Chen Halevi *

Burt Hara Burt Hara was principal clarinetist with the Minnesota Orchestra from 1987 until 2013. He is now the Associate Principal in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Life and career Hara is a native of California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1 ...

* Russell Harlow * David Hattner * Richard Haynes * Johann Simon Hermstedt * Johann Hindler *

Helmut Hödl Helmut Hödl (born 16 November 1969, in Oberwart) is an Austrian clarinetist and composer. Hödl first played clarinet at age six. He studied clarinet at the music academies of Vienna and Graz. He has appeared with the Bachkollegium of Stuttgart, ...

* Emma Johnson *

Sharon Kam Sharon Kam ( he, שרון קם; born August 11, 1971) is an Israeli–German clarinetist. She won the ARD International Music Competition in 1992. Biography After completing her music studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, wher ...

* Reginald Kell * Murray Khouri *

Thea King Dame Thea King DBE FRCM FGSM (26 December 1925 – 26 June 2007) was a British clarinettist. Biography Early life Thea King was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, the daughter of Henry Walter Mayer King, the manager of his family engineer ...

Dieter Klöcker Dieter Klöcker (13 April 1936, Wuppertal – 21 May 2011, Freiburg im Breisgau) was a German clarinetist known for rediscovering many forgotten composers of the 18th century. Specifically forgotten music of the clarinet. From 1975 to 2002, Kl ...

* Howard Klug * Béla Kovács * Wolfgang Kornberger *

Kari Kriikku Kari Kriikku (born 1960) is a Finland, Finnish European classical music, classical clarinetist. He studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and later with Alan Hacker in England and with Leon Russianoff and Charles Neidich in the United Stat ...

* Alison Lambert *

Andrey Laukhin Andrey Laukhin is a Russian clarinetist. Laukhin is the principal clarinetist of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. As a member of the orchestra, he has been on tour in the United States and Europe Europe is a large peninsula con ...

Colin Lawson Colin James Lawson (born 24 July 1949) is a British clarinettist, scholar, and Television presenter, broadcaster. He was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea and educated at Bradford Grammar School. A pupil of Thea King, Lawson was a member of the Natio ...

Andreas Lehnert Andreas Lehnert is a German clarinetist. Lehnert was born in Augsberg, Germany, and studied at the Colleges of Music in Stuttgart and Detmold. From 1994 to 1995, he was principal clarinet with the Hessian Staatstheater Darmstadt; since 1995, he ...

Karl Leister Karl Leister (born 15 June 1937) is a classical clarinet player from Wilhelmshaven, Germany. At a very young age, he learned to play the clarinet from his father, also a clarinetist, and later studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. As a ...

* Michel Lethiec * Lorin Levee * Robert Lindemann *

Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr (born April 14, 1936) is an American clarinetist and music educator whose contributions to the Verdehr Trio have resulted in an extensive modern body of work for the clarinet-violin-piano trio medium. Biography Born in Charlo ...

* John Mahon *

Jon Manasse Jon Manasse is an American clarinetist. Manasse studied clarinet at the Juilliard School under David Weber. He won a prize in the International Competition for Clarinet in Munich and was the youngest winner of the International Clarinet Society Co ...

Sebastian Manz Sebastian Manz (born 1986) is a German clarinetist. Life and work Sebastian Manz was born in Hanover and son of pianist Wolfgang Manz and Julia Goldstein and grandson of the Russian violinist Boris Goldstein, began studying clarinet at Musikhoc ...

* Robert Marcellus * Michele Marelli *

Andrew Marriner Andrew Marriner (born 25 February 1954MARRINER, Andrew Stephen
''Who's Who 2 ...

Pascual Martínez-Forteza Pascual Martínez-Forteza (born 1972) is a Spanish clarinetist. Born in Palma de Mallorca, he became the first Spanish musician in the history of the New York Philharmonic orchestra in 2001. Prior to that he was a member of the Cincinnati Symphon ...

Lawrence Maxey Lawrence S. Maxey (most often Lawrence Maxey or just Larry Maxey) is professor emeritus of clarinet at the University of Kansas School of Music. A native of Indiana, Larry Maxey was a student of Keith Stein at Michigan State University, where he re ...

* Marco Antonio Mazzini * William McColl * Anthony McGill * Ralph McLane *

Jacques Meertens Jacques Meertens (born 16 April 1948) is a Dutch clarinetist. He was the principal clarinetist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from September 1990 until his retirement in April 2013. He plays on a German Reform- Boehm system clarinet. A na ...

Douglas Metcalf Douglas R. Metcalf is an American clarinetist who has garnered acclaim as a performer and educator throughout the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Life Douglas Metcalf was born in Southwick, Massachusetts and studied with Michael Sussman ...

* Paul Meyer *

Sabine Meyer Sabine Meyer (born 30 March 1959) is a German classical clarinetist. Biography Born in Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Meyer began playing the clarinet at an early age. Her first teacher was her father, also a clarinetist. She studied with Otto ...

* Wolfgang Meyer *

Lev Mikhailov Lev Mikhailov (1936―2003) was a Russian clarinetist and saxophonist. He taught clarinet and saxophone at the Moscow Conservatory. Mikhailov performed with the Moscow Radio Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre and the State Symphony ...

Pascal Moraguès Pascal Moraguès is a French clarinetist. Moragues has been the principal clarinetist of the Orchestre de Paris since 1981. He has been a professor at the Conservatoire de Paris since 1995 and a guest professor at the Superior College of Music in ...

Ricardo Morales Ricardo Morales (born 1972) is a classical clarinetist of Puerto Rican descent. Since 2003, he has been the principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to that, he was the principal clarinetist at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. ...

Ivan Mozgovenko Ivan Panteleyevich Mozgovenko (; 13 February 1924 – 31 December 2021) was a Soviet and Russian clarinetist and music teacher. He taught clarinet as a professor at the Gnessin State Musical College. For his participation as a soldier in World W ...

Richard Mühlfeld Richard Bernhard Herrmann Mühlfeld (February 28, 1856 – June 1, 1907) was a German clarinettist who inspired Johannes Brahms and Gustav Jenner to write chamber works including the instrument. The pieces that Brahms wrote for him are the ''C ...

* Charles Neidich *

Tale Ognenovski Tale Ognenovski ( mk, Тале Огненовски; April 27, 1922 – June 19, 2012) was a North Macedonia, Macedonian multi-instrumentalist who played clarinet, Recorder (musical instrument), recorder, tin whistle, bagpipe, zurna, and drums. ...

Sean Osborn Sean Osborn (born 1966) is a former clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a regular substitute in the clarinet section of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He has been a student of Stanley Hasty, Frank Kowalsky, and Eric Mandat. Clar ...

Andreas Ottensamer Andreas Ottensamer (born 4 April 1989) is an Austrian clarinettist and is one of the solo clarinettists of the Berlin Philharmonic. Life Born in Vienna, Ottensamer commenced his musical studies in 1999 at the University of Music and Performing ...

Ernst Ottensamer Ernst Ottensamer (5 October 1955 – 22 July 2017) was an Austrian classical clarinetist. Early life Born in Wallern an der Trattnach in Upper Austria, Ottensamer's father, also named Ernst Ottensamer, was a former mayor of Wallern. Ottensam ...

Karen Palacios Karen Palacios Pérez is a Venezuelan clarinetist who was part of the National System of Orchestras and the National Philharmonic of Venezuela. Palacios had her contract with the Philharmonic Orchestra canceled for having signed in the recall ...

* Edward Palanker * Antony Pay *

Nicolai Pfeffer Nicolai Pfeffer (born 20 September 1985) is a German clarinetist, music editor and ordinary clarinet professor at the "Talent Music Master Courses University of Music" in Brescia, Italy. Training as a clarinetist Born in Fulda, Pfeffer bega ...

* Thomas Piercy * Frank Pilato * George Pieterson *

Viktor Polatschek Viktor Polatschek (29 January 1889 – 27 July 1948) was an Austrian clarinetist and clarinet teacher. He was principal clarinetist with the Vienna State Opera/the Vienna Philharmonics and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Life Vienna Born in C ...

Manfred Preis Manfred Preis (born 1954, in Hengersberg) is a German bass clarinetist and saxophonist. Preis studied at the Munich Musikhochschule and the Orchestra Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker. He played clarinet in the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra ...

Alfred Prinz Alfred Prinz (4 June 1930 – 20 September 2014) was an Austrian composer, clarinetist, and music educator. In 1947 he was awarded a gold medal at the Geneva Music Competition and in 1971 he won a composition award from the city of Vienna. His com ...

Simon Reitmaier Simon Reitmaier is an Austrian clarinettist. Life Reitmaier was born in Telfs. Reitmaier completed his studies in clarinet performance at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Alois Brandhofer and at the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität d ...

Håkan Rosengren Håkan Rosengren is a Swedish clarinet virtuoso, active in the United States and Europe. Colleagues He has worked with: *Esa-Pekka Salonen *Neeme Järvi *Christopher Hogwood *Osmo Vänskä *Jorma Panula *Pascal Verrot *Jan Krenz *Matthias Aeschb ...

Luis Rossi Luis Rossi is an internationally renowned clarinetist. He performed as Principal clarinetist in symphony orchestras throughout South America for twenty years before he founded a clarinet workshop in Santiago, Chile, in 1986. Since then he has also f ...

Sergei Rozanov Sergei Vasilievich Rozanov (1870–1937) was a Russian Empire clarinetist and teacher, considered to be the founder of modern Russian clarinet school. In 1886, he entered Moscow Conservatory, where his teacher was Franz Zimmermann (1818–1891), ...

Hubert Salmhofer Hubert Salmhofer (born July 24, 1964) is an Austrian clarinetist and basset horn player. Salmhofer graduated from the Graz Music Academy in 1990. He teaches at the academy and at its specialist music school in Oberschützen, as well as at the Con ...

* Louis Sclavis *

Peter Schmidl Peter Schmidl (born 10 January 1942) is an Austrian clarinetist. Schmidl was born in Olomouc, Czech Republic, and studied clarinet with Rudolf Jettel at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna. He was the principal clarinetist of the ...

Michael Seaver Michael Seaver (born 1967) is a writer and musician in Ireland. He is the dance critic at ''The Irish Times'' and Irish correspondent with the ''Christian Science Monitor'', as well as principal clarinetist with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. He als ...

Raphaël Sévère Raphaël Sévère born 15 September 1994 in Rennes, is a French clarinettist and composer. Biography At the age of 12, Raphaël Sévère won 1st prize and the special prize at the Japan Clarinet Society competition in the 18-20 age category (Tok ...

* David Shifrin * Mark Simpson * Vladimir Sokolov *

Nikola Srdić Nikola Srdić (born 1952 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia) is a Serbian clarinetist and Professor of Clarinet at the University of Novi Sad Academy of Arts, Serbia and University of Banja Luka Academy of Arts, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was a student of ...

* Anton Stadler *

Milenko Stefanović Milenko Stefanović (19 February 1930 – 25 July 2022) was a Serbian classical and jazz clarinetist. He was a prizewinner in the international competitions in Moscow, Munich, Geneva and Prague, and achieved an international career as a soloist. ...

* Karl-Heinz Steffens *

Suzanne Stephens Suzanne Stephens (born July 28, 1946) is an American clarinetist, resident in Germany, described as "an outstanding performer and tireless promoter of the clarinet and basset horn". Biography Suzanne Stephens was born in Waterloo, Iowa, the dau ...

Richard Stoltzman Richard Leslie Stoltzman (born July 12, 1942) is an American clarinetist. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he spent his early years in San Francisco, California, and Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from Woodward High School in 1960. Today, Stoltzman is part ...

Peter Sunman Peter Sunman is an Australian clarinetist, formerly the acting principal clarinetist of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) between 1978 and 1990. He is a state examiner for the Western Australian branch of the Australian Music Examina ...

Jens Thoben Jens Thoben (born 18 August 1976 in Emsdetten) is a German clarinetist and an orchestra and chamber musician. He is faculty professor for clarinet and chamber music at Lübeck Academy of Music and certified teacher of ''Lichtenberger® Applie ...

Frederick Thurston Frederick John Thurston (21 September 1901 – 12 December 1953) was an English clarinettist. Career From the age of 7 he was taught by his father and he won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music, becoming a pupil of Charles Drap ...

Alison Turriff Alison Turriff (born 10 August 1984 in Lanark, Scotland) is a Scottish people, Scottish folk fusion clarinettist, composer, recording artist, researcher, producer and artist for world leading clarinet makers Buffet Crampon. Early life Turriff s ...

* Annelien Van Wauwe *

Jean-François Verdier Jean-François Verdier is a French clarinetist and conductor. Verdier graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris. He has been a soloist with the Paris Opera The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded ...

* Richard Sidney Walthew *

Bernard Walton Bernard Walton (24 March 1917 – 3 June 1972) was a British classical clarinettist. Biography Walton was born into a musical family. His grandfather was a cellist with the Hallé Orchestra under the eponymous founder Charles Hallé, an ...

* David Weber *

Pamela Weston Pamela Theodora Weston (17 October 1921 – 9 September 2009) was a British clarinetist, teacher and writer. Born in London, she attended Priors Field School. Following two years at the Royal Academy of Music she won a scholarship to the Guild ...

Michael Whight ''Michael Whight'' is a clarinettist. He serves the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as its principal on clarinet. He also instructs, teaching clarinet at Trinity College of Music and serving as both woodwind coach and orchestra conductor at the C ...

* Jörg Widmann *

Leopold Wlach Leopold Wlach (9 September 1902 – 7 May 1956) was an Austrian clarinetist and clarinet teacher. He was solo clarinetist at the Vienna State Opera/with the Vienna Philharmonics. Life Born in Vienna, Wlach first studied clarinet at the Vienna M ...

* Harold Wright * John Bruce Yeh *

Michele Zukovsky Michele Zukovsky (''née'' Bloch) is an American clarinetist and longest serving female woodwind player in the history of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, serving from 1961 at the age of 18 until her retirement on December 20, 2015. Backgr ...

Jazz and pop clarinetists

* Muhal Richard Abrams * George Adams *

Sophie Alour Sophie Alour (born 24 December 1974) is a French jazz musician who plays saxophone, clarinet, and flute. Biography Alour started playing the clarinet at the music school in Quimper, when she was 13 years of age. When she was 19, she started t ...

(born 1974) *

Lloyd Arntzen Lloyd Arntzen (born 19 September 1927) is a jazz clarinetist, folk singer, and Soprano saxophone, soprano saxophonist from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Arntzen has been an active participant on the New Orleans jazz scene, forming the New O ...

* Georgie Auld *

Nailor Azevedo Nailor Azevedo (also known as Nailor Proveta) is a Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist. Azevedo is a member of Banda Mantiqueira, which was nominated for a Grammy in 1998. He has performed with Benny Carter and Anita O'Day. He plays Brazilian cho ...

(also known as Proveta) * Paulo Moura *

Buster Bailey William C. "Buster" Bailey (July 19, 1902 – April 12, 1967) was an American jazz clarinetist. Career history Early career Buster Bailey was taught clarinet by classical teacher Franz Schoepp, who also taught Benny Goodman. Bailey gained his s ...

(1902–1967) * Craig Ball *

Eddie Barefield Edward Emanuel Barefield (December 12, 1909 – January 4, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and arranger most noteworthy for his work with Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. Barefield's musical ...

* Alan Barnes (born 1959) *

Emile Barnes Emile Barnes (18 February 1892 – 2 March 1970) was a New Orleans jazz clarinetist. Barnes studied under Lorenzo Tio Jr., Alphonse Picou, George Baquet, and Louis Nelson Delisle (also known as "Big Eye" Louis Nelson). Active professionally in ...

* John Barnes * Gary Bartz *

Alvin Batiste Alvin Batiste (November 7, 1932 – May 6, 2007) was an American avant-garde jazz clarinetist born, who was in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He taught at his own jazz institute at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hi ...

(1932–2007) * Heinie Beau * Sidney Bechet (1897–1959) *

Shloimke (Sam) Beckerman Shloimke Beckerman (c. 1884–1974) also known as Samuel Beckerman, was a klezmer clarinetist and bandleader in New York City in the early twentieth century; he was a contemporary of Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein. He was the father of Sid Bec ...

(1883–1974) * Sidney Beckerman (1919–2007) * Han Bennink * Derek Bermel *

Barney Bigard Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington. He also played tenor saxophone. Biography Bigard was born in New Orleans to Creole parents, Ale ...

(1906–1980) * Acker Bilk (1929–2014) * Chris Biscoe *

Andy Biskin Andy Biskin ''(né'' Andrew Barry Biskin; born 1955 in San Antonio, Texas), is an American jazz clarinetist, bass clarinetist, composer, and filmmaker based primarily in New York City. Career Biskin is a graduate of Yale University and once serv ...

* Dan Block * Hamiet Bluiett * Anthony Braxton *

Peter Brötzmann Peter Brötzmann (born 6 March 1941) is a German saxophonist and clarinetist. Biography Early life Brötzmann was born in Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He studied painting in Wuppertal and was involved with the Fluxus movement ...

Pud Brown Albert Francis "Pud" Brown (January 22, 1917, Wilmington, Delaware - May 27, 1996, Algiers, Louisiana) was an American jazz reed player. Though he was born in Delaware, Brown's parents raised him in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brown was fluent on sax ...

* Sandy Brown *

Albert Burbank Albert Burbank (March 25, 1902 – August 15, 1976) was an American, New Orleans-based clarinetist. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Burbank was taught clarinet by Lorenzo Tio, one of that city's most famous clarinet players. H ...

* Don Byron (born 1958) *

Ernie Caceres Ernesto Caceres (November 22, 1911 – January 10, 1971) was an American jazz saxophonist born in Rockport, Texas. He was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1940–1942. Background Caceres's brothers were both musicians. Emilio Caceres ...

Happy Caldwell Albert W. "Happy" Caldwell (sometimes incorrectly spelled Cauldwell) (July 25, 1903 in Chicago – December 29, 1978 in New York City) was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. Caldwell began on clarinet at age 16, playing in t ...

Harry Carney Harry Howell Carney (April 1, 1910 – October 8, 1974) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinettist who spent over four decades as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He played a variety of instruments but primarily used the baritone saxopho ...

* Benny Carter * Daniel Carter * James Carter * John Carter * John Casimir * Evan Christopher *

Rod Cless George Roderick Cless (May 20, 1907, in Lenox, Iowa – December 8, 1944, in New York City) was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, perhaps best known for his work on sixteen Muggsy Spanier tunes for Bluebird Records. Additionally, Cles ...

* Tony Coe * Anat Cohen *

Randolph Colville Randolph Colville (23 May 1942 – 15 January 2004) was a Scottish jazz swing clarinettist, saxophonist, bandleader and arranger, perhaps best known for his work with the Keith Nichols' Midnite Follies Orchestra. He was born in Glasgow, Sco ...

* Louis Cottrell Jr. * Hank D'Amico * Eddie Daniels (born 1941) * John Dankworth *

Joe Darensbourg Joe Darensbourg (July 9, 1906 – May 24, 1985) was an American, New Orleans-based jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, notable for his work with Buddy Petit, Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Creath, Fate Marable, Andy Kirk, Kid Ory, Wingy Manone, J ...

* Kenny Davern *

Paul Dean (clarinetist) Paul Dean (born 1966) is an Australian clarinetist, composer and conductor Career Dean was born in Brisbane, Australia. A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Queensland Conservatorium where he received the Medal of Ex ...

* Buddy DeFranco *

Tobias Delius Tobias Delius (born 15 July 1964) is a tenor saxophonist and clarinettist. Early life Delius was born in Oxford, England, on 15 July 1964. His mother was German and his father was Argentine. Delius was brought up largely in England and Germany. ...

* Big Eye Louis Nelson Deslile * Simon Flem Devold (1929–2015) *

Johnny Dodds Johnny Dodds (; April 12, 1892 – August 8, 1940) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist based in New Orleans, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, ...

(1892–1940) * Klaus Doldinger *

Eric Dolphy Eric Allan Dolphy Jr. (June 20, 1928 – June 29, 1964) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist and flautist. On a few occasions, he also played the clarinet and piccolo. Dolphy was one of several multi-instrumentalists to gai ...

(1928–1964) *

Arne Domnérus Sven Arne Domnérus (20 December 1924 – 2 September 2008) was a Swedish jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Career He began to play the clarinet at the age of 11 but had taken up the saxophone by the time he left school and then turned profession ...

* Jimmy Dorsey (1904–1957) *

Tommy Douglas (clarinetist) Tommy Douglas (January 9, 1906 – March 9, 1965) was an American jazz clarinetist, bandleader, and reed instrumentalist. Early life and education Douglas was born in Eskridge, Kansas. He taught himself clarinet and saxophone in school and ...

* Paquito D'Rivera *

Gerd Dudek Gerhard Rochus "Gerd" Dudek (28 September 1938 – 3 November 2022) was a German jazz Tenor saxophone, tenor and Soprano saxophone, soprano saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist. Dudek studied clarinet privately and attended music school in the ...

* Paul Dunmall *

Kai Fagaschinski Kai Fagaschinski (born July 10, 1974 in Dannenberg, Lower Saxony) is a Berlin based free improvisational clarinet player and composer. He is self-taught, and his music has been described as "rooted in abstraction, but with an increasingly insid ...

Wally Fawkes Walter Ernest Fawkes (born 21 June 1924) is a British-Canadian jazz clarinetist and satirical cartoonist. As a cartoonist, he usually worked under the name "Trog" until failing eyesight forced him to retire in 2005 at the age of 81. Early hist ...

Irving Fazola Irving Fazola (December 10, 1912 – March 20, 1949) was an American jazz clarinetist. Biography Irving Henry Prestopnik was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. After receiving the nickname "Fazola", he used it as his last name. Influe ...

Buddy Featherstonhaugh Rupert Edward Lee "Buddy" Featherstonhaugh ( ; 4 October 1909 – 12 July 1976) was an English jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Musical career Born in Paris in 1909, the son of an English marine architect and his Scottish wife. His grandfath ...

(1909–1976) * Giora Feidman *

John Fernandes John Kiran Fernandes (born November 21, 1975) is an American multi-instrumentalist musician. Professional career Fernandes, along with several other members of the Elephant Six Collective, joined the acclaimed psychedelic pop group The Olivia ...

* Pete Fountain (1930–2016) * Bud Freeman * Chico Freeman * Victor Goines * Jimmy Giuffre *

German Goldenshtayn German Goldenshteyn, or Goldenshtayn (2 September 1934 – June 10, 2006) was a Romanian-born American klezmer musician. Goldenshteyn was born to Avrom Z. and Khaya I. Goldenshteyn in the Bessarabian shtetl of Otaci, then in Romania, now in Mold ...

(

Klezmer Klezmer ( yi, קלעזמער or ) is an instrumental musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The essential elements of the tradition include dance tunes, ritual melodies, and virtuosic improvisations played for l ...

) *

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

(1909–1986) * Edmond Hall (1901–1967) * Jimmy Hamilton * Arville Harris *

Bob Helm Robert Marshall Helm (July 18, 1914 – September 1, 2002) was a jazz clarinetist and saxophonist. Helm was born in Fairmead, California and began playing brass instruments when he was young. He later turned to alto saxophone and by the age of 11 ...

* Woody Herman * Peanuts Hucko * Dink Johnson (1892–1954) *

Theo Jörgensmann Theodor Franz Jörgensmann (born 29 September 1948) is a German jazz clarinetist. Activities Theo Jörgensmann belongs to the second generation of European free jazz musicians. He was part of the clarinet renaissance in the jazz and improvisin ...

(born 1948) * David Krakauer *

Mustafa Kandirali Mustafa ( ar, مصطفى , Muṣṭafā) is one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, and the name means "chosen, selected, appointed, preferred", used as an Arabic given name and surname. Mustafa is a common name in the Muslim world. Given name Mo ...

(1930–2020) *

Doreen Ketchens Doreen Ketchens (born October 3, 1966) is an American jazz clarinetist who performs Dixieland and Trad Jazz. She has performed at concert halls, music festivals, and U.S. embassies, as well as in decades of weekly performances in Dixieland's tradit ...

(born 1966) *

John LaPorta John Daniel LaPorta (April 13, 1920 – May 12, 2004) was a jazz clarinetist and composer. Early life and education A native of Philadelphia, LaPorta started playing clarinet at the age of nine and studied at the Mastbaum School in Philadelphia, ...

Prince Lasha William B. Lawsha, better known as Prince Lasha (), (September 10, 1929 – December 12, 2008) was an United States of America, American jazz alto saxophonist, flautist, baritone saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist and English horn player. Life a ...

Margot Leverett Margot Leverett is a New York City, New York-based clarinettist. Born in Ohio, she lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York before studying at Indiana University School of Music. At Indiana, she was classically trained.

* Walt Levinsky (1929–1999) * George Lewis (1900–1969) * Ted Lewis (1891–1971) *

Matt Lavelle Matt Lavelle (born 1970 in Paterson, New Jersey) is a jazz trumpet, flugelhorn, alto clarinet, and bass clarinet player. Career Lavelle began his music career with Hildred Humphries, a swing era veteran who played with Count Basie and Billie Holi ...

(bass clarinet) * Joe Maneri * Michael Marcus * Joe Marsala *

Stan McDonald Stanley George McDonald Jr. (August 28, 1935 – May 2021) was an American traditional jazz clarinetist, soprano saxophone and tuba player. He was one of the founding members of the New Black Eagle Jazz Band in 1971. Ten years later he founded th ...

Hal McKusick Hal McKusick (June 1, 1924 – April 11, 2012) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist who worked with Boyd Raeburn from 1944 to 1945 and Claude Thornhill from 1948 to 1949. Career McKusick was born in Medford, Massachuset ...

(1924–2012) * Mezz Mezzrow *

Jean-Christian Michel Jean-Christian Michel (born 1938) is a composer and clarinetist. His compositions are influenced by jazz and by baroque music, particularly that of Johann Sebastian Bach. Before starting his musical career, Jean-Christian Michel was a doctor, ...

(born 1938) *

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as a bassist. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandros ...

(born 1959) *

Gabriele Mirabassi Gabriele Mirabassi is an Italian jazz clarinetist. Career He was born in Perugia and is a graduate of the Morlacchi Conservatory. His teacher told him avoid playing jazz because it would damage his technique, so at home he learned jazz on the ...

* Gussie Mueller * David Murray *

Don Murray Don Murray may refer to: * Don Murray (actor) (1929–2024), American actor * Don Murray (clarinetist) (1904–1929), American jazz musician * Don Murray (drummer) (1945–1996), American drummer and aminator * Don Murray (footballer) Donald Ja ...

(1904–1929) *

Phil Nimmons Phillip Rista Nimmons, (born June 3, 1923) is a Canadian jazz clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and educator. Nimmons is known for playing in a "Free Jazz" and mainstream styles. As well as playing jazz, Nimmons also played other genres, notab ...

Jimmie Noone Jimmie Noone (April 23, 1895 – April 19, 1944) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. After beginning his career in New Orleans, he led Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra, a Chicago band that recorded for Vocalion and Decca. Classical ...

(1895–1944) *

Alcide Nunez Alcide Patrick Nunez (March 17, 1884 – September 2, 1934), also known as Yellow Nunez and Al Nunez, was an American jazz clarinetist. He was one of the first musicians of New Orleans to make audio recordings. Biography Alcide Patrick Nunez wa ...

(1884–1934) *

Sean O'Boyle Sean Michael O'Boyle AM (born 1963) is an Australian composer and conductor. His ''River Symphony'' was performed by the Queensland Orchestra and released on ABC Classics in 2007 on a CD that also included ''Concerto for Didgeridoo'' composed ...

(born 1963) *

Ivo Papazov Ivo Papazov (or Papasov; bg, Иво Папазов; born 16 February 1952), nicknamed Ibryama (), is a Bulgarian clarinetist. He leads the "Ivo Papazov Wedding Band" in performances of jazz-infused Stambolovo music, and is one of the premier cre ...

Art Pepper Arthur Edward Pepper Jr. (September 1, 1925 – June 15, 1982) was an American alto saxophonist and very occasional tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. Active in West Coast jazz, Pepper came to prominence in Stan Kenton's big band. He was known ...

Ken Peplowski Ken Peplowski (born May 23, 1959) is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and known primarily for playing swing music. For over a decade, Peplowski recorded for Concord Records. In 2 ...

* Sid Phillips (1907–1973) *

Michel Portal Michel Portal (born 27 November 1935) is a French composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist. He plays both jazz and classical music and is considered to be "one of the architects of modern European jazz". Early life Portal was born in Bayonne on ...

(born 1935) *

Doug Richford Douglas Frank Richford (1920-1987) was a British List of clarinetists, jazz clarinetist, and saxophonist. Early career Starting piano at age 7, he became a fan of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman, taking up the clarinet at 13. A pupil of American ...

* Perry Robinson *

Leon Roppolo Leon Joseph Roppolo (March 16, 1902 – October 5, 1943) was an American early jazz clarinetist, best known for his playing with the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. He also played saxophone and guitar. Life and career Leon Roppolo (nicknamed "Rap" and ...

(1902–1943) *

Ned Rothenberg Ned Rothenberg (born September 15, 1956) is an American multi-instrumentalist and composer. He specializes in woodwind instruments, including the alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute). He is known ...

Harold Rubin Harold Rubin (13 May 1932 – 1 April 2020) was a South African-born Israeli artist and free jazz clarinetist. Life and career Rubin was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 13 May 1932. He attended the Jeppe High School for Boys and received ...

(1932-2020) * Pee Wee Russell (1906–1969) *

Dan St. Marseille Dan St. Marseille (born 1962) is an American clarinetist and saxophonist. St. Marseille has had recordings profiled in the subject of articles in Down Beat, Jazztimes, Los Angeles Times, and Jazz Critic. He headlined at the Coleman Hawkins Festiva ...

(born 1962) *

Tom Sancton Thomas Alexander Sancton (a.k.a. Tom, Tommy) is an American writer, jazz clarinetist and educator. From 1992 to 2001 he was Paris bureau chief for ''TIME Magazine'', where he worked for 22 years, and he has contributed to numerous publications in ...

* Louis Sclavis * Tony Scott (1921–2007) * Artie Shaw (1910–2004) *

Harry Shields Harry Shields (June 30, 1899 – January 19, 1971) was an early jazz clarinetist. Harry Shields was born in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, the younger brother of noted clarinetist Larry Shields. Harry spent almost his whole career in New Or ...

(1899–1971) * Larry Shields (1893–1953) * Omer Simeon (1902–1959) * Bill Smith * Chris Speed *

S. Frederick Starr Stephen Frederick Starr (born March 24, 1940) is an American expert on Russian and Eurasian affairs, a musician, and a former president of Oberlin College. Founder and chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, he is fluent in Russian a ...

(born 1940) *

(born 1930) *

* Wilbur Sweatman (1882–1961) *

Antti Sarpila Antti Juhani Sarpila (born 11 June 1964) is a Finnish jazz clarinetist. He performed in a Benny Goodman-inspired style and studied under Bob Wilber. He was a part of the tribute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall in 1988 and played in six American ...

Monty Sunshine Monty Sunshine (9 April 1928 – 30 November 2010) was an English jazz clarinettist, who is known for his clarinet solo on the track "Petite Fleur", a million seller for the Chris Barber Jazz Band in 1959. During his career, Sunshine worked wit ...

(1928-2010) *

Dave Tarras Dave Tarras (c. 1895 – February 13, 1989) was a Ukrainian-born American klezmer clarinetist and bandleader, a celebrated klezmer musician, instrumental in Klezmer revival. Biography Early life Tarras was born David Tarasiuk in Teplyk, Ukrai ...

(1897–1989) * Frank Teschemacher (1906–1932) * Theo Travis (born 1964) *

Shankar Tucker Shankar Tucker is an American clarinetist and music composer. He rose to fame with the popularity of his YouTube music channel "The ShrutiBox". He will be debuting as the music composer for the upcoming bilingual Indian feature film, 'Orey Nyabagam ...

* Allan Vache * Ken Vandermark *

Oliver Weindling Oliver Weindling (born 1955) is a British jazz promoter and founder of the Babel Label, Babel jazz record label. Background He came from a family that encouraged his interest in music, being taken to the opera and concerts regularly. Originally an ...

(born 1955) * Michael White * Hans Olof (Putte) Wickman *

Bob Wilber Robert Sage Wilber (March 15, 1928 – August 4, 2019) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and band leader. Although his scope covers a wide range of jazz, Wilber was a dedicated advocate of classic styles, working throughout his caree ...

* Lester Young * Evan Ziporyn {{Clarinet List

Clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...