ARTISTS
> Soloist Academy > 19-22 Feb.

Winner of 2nd Prize at the 73rd Geneva Competition in 2018 and 1st Prize at the Ghent International Competition in 2017, Vítor Fernandes is widely recognized, at the age of 30, as one of the leading clarinetists of his generation.

Renowned for his technical mastery and wide-ranging repertoire, Vítor has appeared around the world as a soloist and chamber musician in cities including Paris, London, Berlin, Geneva, Zurich, Venice, Lima, Mexico City, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Singapore, Beijing, Dubai, Ljubljana, Sofia, and many others.

He has performed as soloist with orchestras such as Brussels Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Kammerorchester Basel, L’Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Gyor Symphony Orchestra, Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, United Nations Orchestra, Cascais & Oeiras Chamber Orchestra, Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa, Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra, among others, performing concertos ranging from Mozart and Spohr to Tomasi, Nielsen, and contemporary composers such as Frank Ticheli.

He has also appeared as guest principal clarinet with ensembles including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, SWR Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Bergen Philharmonic, and Opéra de Lyon.

Passionate about teaching, Vítor has given numerous masterclasses at institutions such as the National Taipei University of Arts, National Taiwan University of Education, Korean National University of Arts, HAMU – Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Hochschule für Musik Detmold, CODARTS Rotterdam, Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and SOTA – School of the Arts Singapore, as well as at many European and South American festivals.

After completing his Master’s degree at the Haute École de Musique de Genève in 2018, he was awarded the Sih-Woo Cardinaux-Chang Prize. In 2020, he completed the Diplôme de Soliste with distinction and an honorary mention from the jury.