Harry Sparnaay

- Alto-, Bass- and Contrabass Clarinets -

Harry Sparnaay studied at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Ru Otto. After graduating with a performer's degree for clarinet he specialized in bass clarinet and won the first prize at the International Gaudeamus Competition, the first time ever a bass clarinettist had won this prestigious competition. Today he ranks among the world's most distinguished bass clarinet performers.

He has given solo performances at numerous important music festivals, including: Warsaw, New York, Los Angeles, Zagreb, the Holland Festival, several ISCM Festivals, Madrid, Paris and Athens.

Sparnaay has been a featured performer with many major orchestras and ensembles, including: ASKO Ensemble, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Melbourne Symphony, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Residentie Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Schönberg Ensemble… and has appeared with leading conductors, including: Luciano Berio, Riccardo Chally, Richard Duffalo, Peter Eötvös, Reinbert de Leeuw, Diego Masson, Jacques Mercier…

He has given concerts and made radio recordings all over Europe, North and South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Asia, performing compositions written for and dedicated to him. Over 500 works have been written for him and he has performances on more than 40 CD's.

Harry Sparnaay has been Musician in Residence and given Master Classes at universities world-wide. He is Professor of Bass Clarinet and Contemporary Music at the Conservatory of Amsterdam where his unique bass clarinet program attracts students from all over the world, many of them later becoming prize winners at major competitions.

Together with flautist Harrie Starreveld and pianist René Eckhardt he formed HET TRIO in 1984. More than 180 pieces have been written them. With his wife Silvia Castillo (organ) he has performed several new compositions for organ and bass clarinet, especially written for them.