Moritz Schneidewendt, Clarinet

Moritz Schneidewendt, born in Freiburg in 1989, studied classical clarinet and bass clarinet at the Music Academies in Würzburg and Weimar with Manfred Lindner and Thorsten Johanns. He completed his artistic master studies with highest honours in 2017, supported, among others, by the »Deutschlandstipendium« fellowship honouring outstanding student achievements. Further important impulses were provided by such renowned clarinettists as Ralf Manno, Martin Spangenberg, Reto Bieri, Andreas Langenbuch, Nina Janßen and Ernesto Molinari. While still a student, he gained his first orchestral experience by playing with the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Philharmonie Jena and the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and by joining the academy of the Mainz State Orchestra. This was followed by a first engagement at the Leipzig Opera, where he was assistant principal clarinettist at the Musical Comedy. His particular passion, however, is for chamber music, especially the interpretation of contemporary music. In this context, he strives to illuminate new musical forms and instrumental possibilities; thus, as a member of the ensemble via nova (Weimar), for example, he champions support for New Music. Working closely with young composers, he has performed numerous world premieres and appears regularly at various festivals in Germany and abroad.