Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, musicianship and sheer personal magnetism have made him one of today's most sought-after concert artists. As soloist with more than a hundred orchestras, as a captivating recitalist and chamber music performer, as an innovative jazz artist, and as a prolific recording artist, two-time Grammy Award winner Stoltzman has defied categorization, dazzling critics and audiences alike throughout many musical genres.

Stoltzman graduated from Ohio State University with a double major in music and mathematics. He earned his Master of Music degree at Yale University while studying with Keith Wilson, and later worked toward a doctoral degree with Kalmen Opperman at Columbia University. As a ten-year participant in the Marlboro Music Festival, Stoltzman gained extensive chamber music experience, and subsequently became a founding member of the noted ensemble TASHI, which made its debut in 1973.

Since then, Stoltzman's unique style of playing the clarinet has earned him an international reputation as he has opened up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted. He gave the first clarinet recitals in the histories of both the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall, and in 1986, he became the first wind player to be awarded the Avery Fisher Prize. This season he was awarded the prestigious Sanford Medal by the Yale School of Music. His talents as a jazz performer as well as a classical artist have been heard far beyond his annual tours. He has performed or recorded with such jazz and pop greats as Gary Burton, the Canadian Brass, Chick Corea, Judy Collins, Eddie Gomez, Keith Jarrett, the King's Singers, George Shearing, Wayne Shorter, Mel Tormé, and Spyro Gyra founder Jeremy Wall. His commitment to new music has resulted in the commissioning and premiere of numerous new works for the clarinet, including the recent "Landscapes with Blues" by Stephen Hartke, and a concerto by Einojuhani Rautavaara which premiered with conductor Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

Richard Stoltzman has a discography numbering over 50 releases on BMG/RCA, SONY Classical, MMC, BIS, Albany and other labels, including a Grammy-winning recording of Brahms Sonatas with Richard Goode. Among Stoltzman's most beloved releases are "Amber Waves", a CD of American works, and the Trios of Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart with Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma, which won Stoltzman his second Grammy Award. Recent releases include the acclaimed recordings of Hartke's "Landscapes with Blues" with IRIS, conducted by Michael Stern (Naxos), a New York Times "Best of 2003", and Rautavaara's Clarinet Concerto recorded with Leif Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic, released on Ondine (2005). Tom McKinley's "RAP" with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and an all-Bach recording are two forthcoming releases.

Over the years, Stoltzman has received numerous requests for the music to the enchanting arrangements and original works that can be heard on his recordings and in live performance. Amateur and professional clarinetists alike are now in luck as they can finally enjoy this music published in two appealing volumes entitled "ARIA," which features the music from the BMG recording of the same name, and "The Richard Stoltzman Songbook," a collection of jazz and classics, both published by Carl Fischer. During the 2006-07 Season, Stoltzman will perform the Brahms Clarinet Quintet with the Borromeo Quartet in New York and Phoenix, a new quintet with the Prazak Quartet as part of a week-long stay at the Tuscon Winter Chamber Music Festival, the Beethoven Clarinet Trio with members of the Amelia Piano Trio along with the Pulitzer Prize winning "Tempest Fantasy" by Paul Moravec in New York. Stoltzman returns to Japan as well as Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall with marimbist Mika Yoshida, long-time collaborator and bass legend, Eddie Gomez, as well as his son, pianist Peter Stoltzman, among others. Stoltzman and his son Peter will perform a jazz inspired benefit recital in New Orleans to support the Katrina this is followed by a classical recital with pianist David Deveau. Concerto appearances include Takemitsu and Debussy in Milan with conductor Junichi Hirokami, Mozart in the Berlin with conductor Peter Oundjian and in Columbus, Ohio with Mo. Hirokami, as well as Takemitsu in San Francisco with Michael Tilson Thomas. Extended residencies take Stoltzman to the University of Minnesota/Duluth, Miami University/Festival Miami, the California State University/ Fullerton, and Hancher Auditorium/University of Iowa, where he will perform the music of Benny Goodman with big band and jazz combo, among other activities. Throughout the season, Stoltzman will also continue his commitment to help bring music to children of all ages as an active Board Member of Young Audiences.

Summer 2006 began with a tour of Japan to participate in the official 75th birthday memorial tribute to composer Toru Takemitsu at Tokyo Opera City and performances at the Amakusa Festival. This was followed by performances of Piazzolla and Bernstein under the baton of Brevard Festival Music Director David Effron and chamber concerts stretching from North Carolina to Vermont. Every summer Mr. Stoltzman presents a series of masterclasses for clarinetists from all over the world. The course is held in the "Caetani" Castle at Sermoneta, a small medieval town near Latina, 50 miles south of Rome and 15 miles from the Tyrrenian Sea. The quiet and friendly atmosphere encourages artistic relationships and assures concentrated studies. Additional information can be found at www.campusmusica.it. Mr. Stoltzman's summer classes at the Orford Festival near Montreal have also become an annual favorite.

Past season highlights have featured Stoltzman with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia and at New York's Mostly Mozart Festival, marking Stoltzman's 25th appearance at the Lincoln Center festival as well as performances throughout the US, Canada and Europe of Einojuhani Rautavaara's Clarinet Concerto. Duo recitals with pianists Emanuel Ax and Lukas Foss, as well as performances and tours with the American, Emerson, Orion, Takacs, and Tokyo String Quartets are also highlights. Especially memorable are concerts of jazz and classics with his son, pianist Peter John Stoltzman. Father and Son have performed together around the globe and were recently featured on NPR's "Performance Today" and "Weekend Edition" as well as "Voice of America" radio. For their extraordinary talent on the stage, in the classroom, and throughout the community, WGBH radio in Boston called the Stoltzmans "New England's First Family of Classical Music".

Richard Stoltzman, resides in Massachusetts and is a passionate Boston Red Sox baseball fan. He is also a Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef.