Julian Bliss — Clarinet
Julian Bliss is recognized as one of the world’s leading clarinetists, excelling as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, jazz artist, and masterclass leader. He began playing the clarinet at the age of four and went on to study in the United States at the University of Indiana and in Germany with Sabine Meyer.
As a soloist, Bliss has performed with orchestras including the Auckland Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Paris, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, São Paulo Symphony, and the Queensland Symphony. His chamber music and recital engagements have brought him to many of the world’s foremost venues and festivals, among them Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Verbier, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Highlights of the 2024–25 season include Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, a residency at New Zealand’s At the World’s Edge Festival, and the world premiere of Ross Harris’ Clarinet Concerto with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He also recently premiered John Mackey’s Clarinet Concerto for Wind Orchestra with the Dallas Winds, which was released on album earlier this year to critical acclaim.
Bliss’s extensive discography on Signum Records and other labels spans the classical canon and new works alike. Notable releases include Brahms’s Clarinet Sonatas with James Baillieu; Mozart and Weber Quintets with the Carducci Quartet; Shepherd on the Rock with Ailish Tynan and Christopher Glynn; and Mozart and Nielsen’s Clarinet Concertos with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. His latest recordings include the Mackey Concerto and a Schumann recital album, following the success of earlier projects spotlighted as Record of the Week by international media.
In 2010, Bliss founded the Julian Bliss Septet, dedicated to innovative programs inspired by Benny Goodman and George Gershwin. Their recordings and international tours, including performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ronnie Scott’s, and major European festivals, have been praised for their dazzling virtuosity and inventive improvisation.
Bliss also launched Bliss Music in 2020, publishing his arrangements for clarinet and piano, which include works by Rachmaninoff, Ticheli, and Whitacre. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has served as the first Artist in Residence at the Yehudi Menuhin School, frequently engaging with students and young performers.
Julian Bliss is a Buffet Crampon and Vandoren Artist and continues to shape the clarinet’s presence across genres with a distinctive artistry that bridges classical tradition and contemporary innovation.