CARLOS FERREIRA
CLARINET
“Carlos Ferreira, one of the most renowned clarinetists of our time.”
Worldwide General Management
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Portuguese-born clarinetist Carlos Ferreira, celebrated by The Arts Desk as “marvellous,” with “rich and resonant” playing, is enjoying an extensive career as a soloist and chamber musician. Renowned for his technical ease, coloristic range, and charismatic stage presence, he performs regularly at major venues and festivals worldwide. Ferreira serves as Principal Clarinet of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, having been appointed by Klaus Mäkelä.
In the 2025/26 season, Ferreira makes guest appearances with leading European orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and embarks on a tour of Germany with the Prague Philharmonia, performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2, and Schumann’s Abendlied. In summer 2026, he appears with the Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn at the prestigious Rheingau Musik Festival, and gives the World Premiere of Pedro Emanuel Pereira’s Clarinet Concerto at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in California, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru.
An avid chamber musician, Ferreira features this season in chamber music programs at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw Kleine Zaal with the Goya Quartet, performing the Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintets, and Denmark’s iconic Louisiana Museum of Modern Arts, performing the same two renowned clarinet quintets alongside Karen Gomyo, Inmo Yang, Sindy Mohamed, and Bryan Cheng.
Named a European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) Rising Star for the 2024/25 season, Ferreira was showcased at some of Europe’s most distinguished concert venues, including Philharmonie de Paris, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Barbican Centre, Bozar Brussels, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, and The Glasshouse International. His accolades also include prizes at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich and the Geneva International Competition, as well as the WEMAG Soloist Prize at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
His first joint album with pianist and composer Pedro Emanuel Pereira, XX–XXI, was released in November 2022. The recording features cornerstone works of the 20th-century clarinet repertoire alongside the world premiere of Pereira’s suite Duas Igrejas, Op. 7, written especially for the project.
Recent seasons have seen Ferreira perform as soloist with the Orchestre National de France, Münchener Rundfunkorchester, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Münchener Kammerorchester, Prague Philharmonia, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, and Collegium Musicum Basel, collaborating with conductors such as Cristian Măcelaru, Lorenzo Viotti, Nuno Coelho, Valentin Uryupin, Gabriel Bebeșelea, and Pierre Bleuse.
As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with artists including Hilary Hahn, Alice Sara Ott, Emmanuel Pahud, Karen Gomyo, Timothy Ridout, Frank Dupree, Eric Le Sage, Lise Berthaud, Paul Meyer, Julia Hagen, Pierre Fouchenneret, Sarah Nemtanu, Quatuor Hermès, Nika Goric, and Sao Soulez‑Larivière.
Ferreira previously held principal clarinet positions with the Orchestre National de France, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Orchestre National de Lille.
Born in Paredes, Portugal, Ferreira trained at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid with Michel Arrignon and Enrique Pérez Piquer, continuing his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Arno Piters, and later at the HEMU Lausanne with Florent Héau. His early musical education took place in Portugal at the José Atalaya Music Academy, ARTAVE, and the Porto Superior School of Music and Performing Arts (ESMAE) with Nuno Pinto. After participating in the Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy, he began his professional orchestral career as Principal E-flat Clarinet of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte‑Carlo.
“The marvellous clarinettist Carlos Ferreira.”
“Ferreira found a rich and resonant American accent.”
“Ferreira’s playing was fluent and warm.”
“Ferreira’s command of the instrument was exceptional, displaying ease of control throughout registers and volumes, a variety of colors within his tone, and masterful fluidity of technique.”
“Ferreira’s first performance at a ClarinetFest® will surely not be his last, as the audience expressed its approval loudly and at length.”
International Clarinet Association
“Carlos Ferreira, one of the most renowned clarinetists of our time.”
“Carlos Ferreira has already established himself as one of the greatest clarinetists of our time.”
“From the very first notes, Carlos Ferreira reveals his unique delicacy and sensitivity. His virtuosity elevates the work with exalted lyricism.”