About Prof. Wenzel Fuchs & Prof. Denitsa Laffchieva
Wenzel Fuchs
Wenzel Fuchs comes from a region where traditional wind music is highly valued. The Innsbruck native, scion of a musical family, was already playing the clarinet as a child in various wind ensembles. After first studying in Kitzbühel and Innsbruck with professor Walter Kefer, he continued his education with professor Peter Schmidl at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts and achieved the degree with high honours. Wenzel Fuchs also enjoyed the opportunity of playing as a substitute in all Viennese orchestras, including the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Wiener Philharmoniker; he won awards from the Austrian Ministry of Science and Arts as well as the "Jugend musiziert" competitions.
He began his professional career at the age of 19 as principal clarinettist of the Vienna Volksoper and followed five years later by a similar appointment with the Vienna RSO. Since 1993 he has been the solo clarinettist of the Berlin Philharmonic.
In addition to his work in the orchestra, Fuchs is active as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic, the China National SO, the Korean SO, the Berlin Symphony and the Berlin Philharmonic as well as a chamber music player in, among other groups, the Philharmonic Wind Ensemble, the Philharmonic Wind Soloists, the Philharmonic Octet and the Philharmonic Friends of Vienna-Berlin. HIs chamber music partners include Yefim Bronfman, Emmanuel Pahud, András Schiff, Albrecht Mayer, Mitsuka Uchida and David Geringas.
Wenzel Fuchs also teaches at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's Karajan Academy and has held a professorship at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin (from autumn 2008 to summer 2012) as well as a visiting professorship at Sakuyou Music University in Okayama, Japan and an honorary professorship at the Shanghai Conservatory. He regularly gives master classes all over the world. Since October 2015 he is professor at the Mozarteum Salzburg. Wenzel Fuchs enjoys skiing and likes most of all to spend his free time with his family.
Denitsa Laffchieva
The British-Bulgarian clarinettist Denitsa Laffchieva made her solo debut at the age of 14 with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Numerous prizes at international competitions, prestigious awards and world premieres built her strong international reputation as a clarinet prodigy. Denitsa studied in some of the finest European music institutions – Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts with Prof. Peter Schmidl- solo clarinettist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the National Academy of Music in Sofia with prof. Petko Radev-former solo clarinettist of Teatro della Scala di Milan.
Aged 19, she was awarded ‘Musician of the Year’ by the Bulgarian National Radio. At the age of 23, Denitsa was the youngest musician ever to receive the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture’s award for ‘Great Contribution to the Bulgarian Culture’. In the same year, she also won the prestigious ‘Herbert von Karajan Foundation’ in Vienna, scholarship for Extraordinary Musical Talent.
Denitsa made her Wigmore Hall debut recital in 2007 and her Carnegie Hall debut recital in 2008 followed by returns in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
Dedicated chamber musician she regularly performs with world renowned musicians such as Viktoria Postnikova, Eldar Nebolsin, Ashley Wass, Julien Quentin, Roman Simovic, Jack Liebeck, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Guy Johnston, Zholt Visontay, Jamie Walton, Lise Berthaut, Patrick Gallois and Alexander Zemtsov.
Denitsa has recorded multiple times the clarinet concerto from W.A. Mozart for BMG, Ricordi and G7.
Denitsa has recorded for many Radio and TV companies in the world like BBC London, Bulgarian National Golden Fond-Sofia, ITV, ORF, RFI, RAI, BNT, BNR and NHK.
Since 2011 she has been Principal Clarinettist of Sinfonia Finlandia. With that orchestra together with Patrick Gallois she also performed as a soloist and recorded on Naxos label the highly awarded and acclaimed Cimarosa Ouverture CD.
From 2010 Denitsa Laffchieva held a Professor position at the University of Central Finland and from 2015 she will teach at the Richard Wagner Konservatorium in Vienna. Many of her students already enjoy international careers.
