Manuel Martínez

Spanish clarinetist Manuel Martínez has established himself as one of the most innovative and distinctive artists of his generation, developing a career that transcends virtuosity to transform the clarinet into a vehicle for artistic exploration. Recognized for the depth and individuality of his sound, his refined technique, and his constant creative curiosity, he combines a strong international career as a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber artist with a firm commitment to expanding the possibilities of the repertoire and exploring new forms of musical expression.

As a soloist, he has performed at leading venues in Europe and the Americas, including Murchison Performing Arts Center (Denton), Abbott Concert Hall (Wisconsin), ADDA – Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante, L'Auditori Barcelona and Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, while also collaborating with ensembles of international renown. His performances combine the great classical repertoire with innovative works for clarinet, demonstrating a particular ability to undertake new-creation projects.

A fundamental part of his career is devoted to the creation of new repertoire. Manuel has collaborated with some of today's most prominent composers, including Arturo Márquez, Paquito D'Rivera, Johan de Meij, Daniel Freiberg, Emilio Solla, Bernat Vivancos, Joan Magrané and José María Sánchez-Verdú, and has commissioned and championed more than ten new works for clarinet and symphonic band, actively contributing to the expansion of the instrument's repertoire.

This artistic vision finds one of its most representative expressions in Sonoro Infinito, an interdisciplinary project bringing together music, video art, and stage performance. The production features works written specifically for the project by composers including José María Sánchez-Verdú, Voro Garcia, Pilar Jurado, Luis Tabuenca, Josep Maria Guix, Bernat Vivancos, Mar Caballer, Esther Pérez, Saül Gómez, and Eduardo Betes, with stage direction by Sol Picó and video art by Dani Cantó and Agnès Hayden. The project reflects his interest in exploring new concert formats and establishing connections between music, performing arts, and audiences.

More recently, he has embarked on a new stage in his career as a composer with ARCHÉ: Four Elements, his first work for solo clarinet with effects pedals and symphonic band. Inspired by the four elements—air, water, earth, and fire—the work explores the timbral and expressive possibilities of the clarinet in interaction with electronic effects and symphonic band. ARCHÉ: Four Elements was published by Proventis Music as part of the Manuel Martínez Clarinet Series, an editorial collection dedicated to promoting his work as a creator.

His commitment to the creation of new repertoire also extends to TRIBUTES, a book for solo clarinet developed in collaboration with Proventis Music. The project brings together 33 pieces specially commissioned from renowned composers, including Johan de Meij, Marco Mezquida, David Krakauer, Andy Firth, Julio Panadero, and Stephen Melillo, among many other creators. Conceived as a tribute to different figures and musical languages throughout music history, TRIBUTES represents a significant contribution to the solo clarinet repertoire and reflects his commitment to the creation and dissemination of new works.

Manuel Martínez is currently principal clarinet of the Banda Municipal de Barcelona, a member of the Orquestra Utopia, and founder of Barcelona Clarinet Players. His career thus brings together three fundamental areas of activity: solo performance, orchestral experience, and chamber music, complemented by his growing work as a composer and promoter of new artistic projects.

Born in Villar del Arzobispo (Valencia), he began his musical studies at the age of six with his father at the Unión Musical Santa Cecilia. He subsequently studied at the Conservatorio de Llíria with Salvador Marí, furthering his training with José Miguel Martínez Falomir, principal clarinet of the Banda Municipal de Valencia. He earned his Higher Degree in Clarinet with Honors from the Conservatorio Superior de Música “Joaquín Rodrigo” de Valencia, under the guidance of Rafael Albert and José Cerveró, and continued his studies at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Alois Brandhofer. He also furthered his artistic development with Vicente Alberola.

He recently released his first solo album, LIVE SESSION, and is currently working on new recording and publishing projects in both the symphonic and chamber music fields. He performs on Henri Selmer Paris and uses Légère reeds.

Manuel Martínez represents a new generation of performers for whom artistic excellence, innovation, and creation form a single artistic language. His career combines extensive experience as a performer with a growing body of work as a creator, advocate for new repertoire, and developer of projects that expand the expressive possibilities of the clarinet.