BIOGRAPHY

Prof. Blaž Šparovec, principal clarinettist of the Gürzenich-Orchestra Cologne and Professor for clarinet at the Hfm Saar in Saarbrücken, has established himself as one of the leading soloists, orchestra musicians and teachers.

He is a member of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and regularly performs as guest principal with leading German orchestras, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Staatskapelle Dresden, Staatskapelle Berlin, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester and WDR Symphony Orchestra, and is a passionate chamber musician.

The 1st prize winner, as well as the winner of two special prizes at the Carl Nielsen International Competition 2019, Blaz has appeared as a soloist with the Gürzenich-Orchestra Cologne, Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphonic Orchestra and Göttingen Symphony Orchestra.

In 2015, the then 21-year old released his debut album, performing a wide span of repertoire from Debussy to Penderecki showing “a bold programme selection that presents the master student of François Benda as a versatile musician.” (Das Orchester). Also reviewing the album, Germany’s Klassik-Heute commented “To put it bluntly: Blaz Sparovec succeeds brilliantly  .. thanks to the twenty-one-year-old’s ability to guide his instrument like the human voice … Sparovec’s articulation is crystal-clear, his phrasing highly vivid … creating the purest joy of playing and joie de vivre.”

In 2020 he recorded his second album, presenting together with the Odense Symphony Orchestra the milestones of the 20th century, including the concertos by Carl Nielsen and Aaron Copland, followed by album recordings with the ORF Symphony Orchestra Vienna, including Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.

Prior to his success at the Carl Nielsen Competition, Blaz has won numerous international prizes both in his native Slovenia and internationally, including the 1st prize and Audience Prize in the Aeolus Winds Competition 2014 and 1st prize in the hülsta woodwinds competition in the same year. In 2012 he represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Young Musicians Competition in Vienna, having previously won a special prize at the 2011 Concertino International Radio Competition in Prague.