Saxon Wind Philharmonic & Thomas Clamor
Biography Saxon Wind Philharmonic & Thomas Clamor
Saxon Wind Philharmonic (Sächsische Bläserphilharmonie)
A look at European musical history reveals a long tradition of independent performance by musicians in many different brass formations in both sacred and secular music: This tradition extends from performances by town pipers, council and court musicians, classical “Harmoniemusik” (symphonic wind ensembles) and Romantic wind band serenades all the way to the symphonic-orchestral tutti sound of the present day. There are innumerable composers and ensembles whose names are associated with this genre. For more than half a century the Saxon Wind Philharmonic has been building on this rich heritage as the only ensemble among German symphony orchestras which is specialized in and well known for this repertoire: In 2010 the 60th birthday of the ensemble was marked with a major jubilee concert. The Saxon Wind Philharmonic performs in many different instrumental combinations. These range from small, flexible wind ensembles to serenade instrumentation (implying incidental music performed at night) all the way to a full orchestra. In this way the artistic possibilities of concertante wind ensemble literature can be comprehensively displayed. Lively interpretations faithful to the original along with instrumental perfection guarantee great success with audiences, and document the high artistic standard the ensemble sets for itself. The Saxon Wind Philharmonic’s own academy, founded in 1995, documents the pedagogical ethos of the ensemble and their commitment to sustainability. The year 2011 was marked by no less than three important milestones for the ensemble: On January 1 the official term of office of the new Artistic Director of the Saxon Wind Philharmonic, Thomas Clamor, began. In addition, since 2010 the academy, which sees itself as a nationwide network of specialized wind ensemble associations, has performed under the new name “Deutsche Bläserakademie.” And finally, in May 2011 its new home became Bad Lausick, which was chosen for its excellent geographical location within Germany, where the grand opening was celebrated on 2011.
Thomas Clamor
is Principal Conductor of the Saxon Wind Philharmonic and Artistic Director of the Deutsche Bläserakademie. He studied trumpet and percussion at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold. In 1986 he was accepted into the Berlin Philharmonic as its youngest member while also making a name for himself as a soloist and chamber musician in renowned ensembles. This creative work is documented by a large number of television and radio productions, as well as CD recordings with leading recording labels. In 1987 he began working as a teacher and visiting professor at German universities (Detmold, Weimar, Berlin) and at the Herbert von Karajan Foundation. Right up until today, Thomas Clamor gives international master classes and is a professor (honoris causa) at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. A high point in his teaching work is “El Sistema” of Venezuela, which now has legendary status: Here, with his support the first Latin American wind academy was established, with the Venezuelan Brass Ensemble he founded at its forefront; with this ensemble he has been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics throughout the world. Thomas Clamor has appeared as a guest artist at the most important music festivals in Europe, and among other venues has conducted in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Buenos
Aires, Tokyo, Peking, Rome, and Madrid. He is considered one of the leading conductors of brass chamber music internationally . In 2010 he founded Das Große Europäische Blechbläserensemble in Austria; as with many of his projects, here too one of his goals is to carry on cultural exchange at the highest musical level.
