Jon Manasse

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BIOGRAPHY

Clarinetist Jon Manasse is among the most distinguished classical artists of his generation, internationally recognized for his inspiring artistry, uniquely glorious sound, and charismatic performing style.

As soloist, he has performed with orchestras including the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the San Jose Chamber Symphony, the Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Seattle Symphonies. He has appeared in musical centers worldwide, including Carnegie, Geffen, Barbican, and Suntory Halls.

Mr. Manasse tours with pianist and Van Cliburn Gold Medal winner Jon Nakamatsu as the Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo. Their Harmonia Mundi recording of Brahms’ Clarinet Sonatas was selected by the New York Times as the best of that year. He also released a recording of Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet with the Tokyo String Quartet, and has collaborated with many of the leading quartets, including the Tokyo, Shanghai, Orion, Emerson, American, and Ying.

Jon Manasse also presents duo concerto and recital concerts with his son, Alec Manasse. Yearly return engagements include the San Jose Chamber Symphony, the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, and the Saint Bart Festival de Musique.

Commissioned and premiered works include those by John Novacek, Paquito D’Rivera, James Cohn, Lowell Liebermann, Gordon Goodwin, Anna Clyne, and Vivian Fung.

Mr. Manasse has six critically acclaimed recordings on the XLNT label: the complete concerti of Weber with Lukas Foss and the Brooklyn Philharmonic; the complete clarinet and piano works of Weber with pianist Samuel Sanders; “Clarinet Music From 3 Centuries” (including the Mozart Clarinet Quintet with the Shanghai Quartet, Spohr, Gershwin, and the James Cohn Clarinet Concerto No. 2); and the concerti of Mozart, Nielsen, and Copland, plus a recording of the Mozart and Spohr concertos with Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony.

Mr. Manasse has served as Principal Clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and currently serves as principal for the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. He was Guest Principal Clarinetist with the New York City Ballet, the Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Cincinnati Symphony.

Mr. Manasse is on the faculties of the Juilliard School, as well as the Lynn and Mannes Conservatories. Together with Jon Nakamatsu, he serves as Artistic Co-Director of the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival; this summer marks their 20th year together as Co-Directors. Additional return summer festival engagements include the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Jon Manasse graduated from the Juilliard School, where he studied with David Weber. Mr. Manasse was a top prize winner in the Thirty-Sixth International Competition for Clarinet in Munich, and the youngest winner of the International Clarinet Society Competition.

Jon Manasse is a Yamaha and Vandoren Artist.

2026/2027
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