Vitor Fernandes

2nd Prize Clarinet 2018

Awarded in 2018 with the 2nd Prize at the 73rd Geneva Competition, following his 1st Prize at the 2017 Ghent International Competition, at the age of 26 Vitor Fernandes is recognized as one of the leading clarinetists of his generation. Vitor started his musical studies at the age of 6 by being part of a small wind band in his hometown in Portugal. Since then, he has won over a dozen prizes in National and International competitions all over the world.

In 2019, Vitor won a trial for the Solo Clarinet position at the London Symphony Orchestra, which is still in progress. Besides his trial, Vitor is currently focused on his soloist career, having played all over Europe, South-Korea, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, the United States of America and also teaching masterclasses at European and Chinese Universities. He has played as a guest member with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and as a soloist with the Brussels Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Gyor Symphony Orchestra, L’Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, The Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, among others.

Vitor has recorded for the Portuguese National Radio and Television, Radio Television Suisse, France Musique, Bartók Radio Hungary and National Radio of Slovenia. In 2018, after finishing his Master’s Diploma at the Haute École de Musique de Genève, he was awarded with the Sih-Woo Cardinaux-Chang prize.

A Buffet-Crampon and D’Addario Artist, Vitor Fernandes plays a set of Buffet-Crampon “Tosca” clarinets and D’Addario Reserve Classic Reeds.

(Biography updated 12/12/2020)


COMPETITION PROGRAMME


RECITAL 1
— R. Schumann: Fantasiestücke
— F. Donatoni: "Clair" (1st mvt.) for clarinet solo

RECITAL 2
— J. Brahms: Sonata N° 1 in F minor, Op. 120
— E. Bozza: Bucolique
— J. Widmann: 5 Fragments for clarinet and piano

SEMI-FINAL
— W. A. Mozart: Quintet for clarinet and string quartet, K. 581
— L. Bassi: Fantasy on "Rigoletto"
— W. Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes

FINAL
— J. Choi: "Nocturne III", Concerto for clarinet
— J. Rietz: Concerto in G minor, Op. 29