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← Artists · Seoul Winter Music Festival 2027

Sebastian ManzClarinettist

The first clarinet winner of the ARD Competition in Munich in 40 years,
layering the freedom of jazz over precise German tradition

ClarinetGermany2027 Nova Lux Main Artist

Sebastian Manz is one of the most distinctive clarinettists in classical music today, an artist combining complete technical control with deep musical insight

Having triumphed at the world's most prestigious competitions, Manz was hailed as 'a talent that comes along perhaps once in a century', and is regarded as a performer who reinterprets the authentic tradition of the German clarinet school for our time

A bubbling sound laboratory, musically highly inspired experimental set-ups

– Mannheimer Morgen, review of “A Bernstein Story”

Profile

Born1986, Hanover, Germany – son of pianists Wolfgang Manz and Julia Goldstein, and grandson of violinist Boris Goldstein
EducationMusikhochschule Lübeck
TeachersSabine Meyer · Rainer Wehle
BeginningsTook up the clarinet at seven (Hanover music school, with Wilfried Berk) – inspired by Benny Goodman's recording of a Weber concerto

Competitions & Awards

  • 2008ARD International Music Competition, Munich, clarinet – the first 1st Prize in 40 years
  • Winner, German Music Competition (Deutscher Musikwettbewerb) · 'Europa Prize' of the pan-European PAN Foundation
  • 3× ECHO2011 Newcomer of the Year · 2012 Chamber Music Recording · 2017 Concert Recording (“Weber: Complete Works for Clarinet”)
  • 2020OPUS KLASSIK, 'Classical without Borders' (“A Bernstein Story”) · Emerging Artist Award, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (USA)

Career & Stage

  • 2010–presentPrincipal clarinet, SWR Symphony Orchestra, Germany
  • Has performed with conductors including Simon Rattle, Teodor Currentzis and Herbert Blomstedt, with the Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and on other major stages worldwide
  • Regularly invited to leading international festivals

Discography

  • 2011–presentNumerous albums on Sony Classical and other labels
  • Duo albums with pianist Martin Klett: “Duo Riul” · “In Rhythm”
  • 2019Crossover album “A Bernstein Story” with jazz pianist Studnitzky
  • 2026New spring release “Quasi Cool” (Berlin Classics)