Sérgio Fernandes Pires is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic and accomplished clarinetists of his generation, regularly captivating audiences worldwide as a Soloist, Chamber Musician, and Orchestral Player.
Since 2016, Sérgio has served as the Solo Clarinetist with the Winterthur MusikKollegium in Switzerland and, as of 2023, holds the esteemed position of Principal Clarinetist with the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra.
Renowned for his solo performances, Sérgio Pires has performed as a soloist with distinguished orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Bremen Philharmonic (Germany), Berliner Symphoniker, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra Basel (Switzerland), Sinfonieorchester Wupperthal, Musikkollegium Winterthur, among others, in concert halls such as Berliner Philharmonie, Tonhalle Zürich and Konzerthaus Berlin. His repertoire spans from the classics of Mozart and Weber to more modern works by Nielsen, Veress and Penderecki Notably, he has garnered numerous accolades, winning over a dozen prizes in esteemed international competitions such as the Cluj International Clarinet Competition (First Prize, 2017) and the Concorso Internazionale Marco Fiorindo (First Prize, 2012).
Sérgio’s artistry is further showcased through his extensive discography, featuring collaborations with renowned artists and labels including BIS, MDG, Genuin, and Avi. His recordings have received widespread acclaim from music critics globally.
A sought-after chamber musician, Sérgio Pires has performed alongside luminaries such as Heinz Holliger, Emmanuel Pahud, Emmanuel Ceysson, Krzysztof Chorzelski and Radovan Vlatkovic.
Additionally, he has made significant contributions to music education, having taught (2019-2023) at the Universidade do Minho, Portugal, and currently serving as an Assistant Teacher at the Hochschule für Musik der Stadt Basel, François Benda’s clarinet class. Sérgio’s pedagogical outreach extends internationally through masterclasses and educational videos that have more than 30.000 views, reaching a diverse global audience.
With a rich orchestral background, Sérgio Pires has been an active participant in esteemed orchestras from a young age, including the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. He has collaborated with renowned ensembles worldwide, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Tonkünstler Orchestra.
Born in 1995, Sérgio began his musical journey at the age of 8 and pursued his education at the Academia de Música Valentim Moreira de Sá in Guimarães, with Vitor Matos, before completing his Master’s degree in Performance-Soloist with distinction at the Hochschule für Musik der Stadt Basel under François Benda’s tutelage.
An esteemed artist endorsed by Henry Selmer and Silverstein Works, Sérgio Pires is also a scholar of the Mozartgesellschaft Dortmund, Germany.

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