Wilfried Berk grew up in Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil, where he was born as a son of German immigrants. He studied at the National Academy of Music in Rio with Prof. Jayoleno dos Santos. After his graduation he became a member of the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (OSB) and was a founding-member of the Quinteto Villa-Lobos in 1962. Events with the Quinteto in 1964: – Caravana da Cultura, touring Northeastern Brazil – and a tournée through South America in official mission of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations -concerts in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Santiago, Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Asunciôn, Montevideo (May-June).

For over 30 years he has had a teaching position in Hanover/ Germany, this in addition to his activities as a clarinet soloist and chamber musician, as an arranger and editor of his own publications – records, the clarinet involving articles (example: The large presence of the Boehm clarinet at the CD market) and music scores: clarinetto arioso & clarinetto virtuoso/ editor Simrock/ Benjamin, Hamburg/ London. Some steps of his career: winner of the Youth -competition for soloists of the OSB – yearly, from 1960 to 1964: teaching assignment as a clarinet professor at the University of Salvador/ Bahia and principal clarinetist at the symphony orchestra there (from 1964 to 1967). Since May ’67 living in Germany alter a study (thanks to a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service) with Diploma in Berlin (Prof Heinrich Geuser): orchestra musician in Marl (Philharmonia Hungarica) and Stuttgart Philharmonie.

Features: 1° Festival Internacional de Mûsica do Rio de Janeiro (Rio,1963), laureate at the Intern. Chamber Music Competition (with an Villa-Lobos Ensemble) at Colmar/ France / Intern. Study for Clarinetists (Queekhoven/ Netherlands in 1971, Festival da Bahia (1975), Semana da Mûsica Brasileira em Bonn/ Bad Hersfelder Festspielkonzerte (Germany,1975), Famiglia Menighina di Milano (Italy,1977), Incontri Musical] a Venezia 1980: Congrès International de la Clarinette à Paris, visit to the Maison Vandoren (France,1981) ). Participation to international music camps – with Jost Michaels (Trossingen/ Germany,1983), Jacques Lancelot, Walter Boeykens
(Holland, 1971), John McCaw (Paris, 1981), Lateinamerikatage Dortmund 1992: Kulturkaleidoskop/ EXPO 2000 (Hanover). Performances as a clarinet soloist: – with orchestra conducted by Eleazar de Carvalho, Alceu Bocchino, Jayoleno dos Santos, Vicente Fittipaldi, Victor Tevah, Sergio Magnani and Isaac Karabtchevsky, playing concertos by W A Mozart, C M von Weber (op. 26, 73 & 74), Johann Stamitz and Franz Krommer, – with the Pandula-Quartet and the Quarteto de Cordas de Sao Paulo (Quintets by Mozart, Brahms and Arthur Bliss), – with the Clarion Ensemble/ Collegio col Clarinetto.

Many recordings and recitals in Europe and South-America (the main repertory for Duo) for radio with his wife – the pianist Elisabeth Berk-Seiz Together with German and Brazilian music colleagues he has established since 1991 the groups Escola de Choro, Duo Carioca and Canto do Rio to the spreading of choro-music, which is very important to him, due to his roots. He toured with them in Germany, Brazil Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.K. (London and surroundings).
Discography:

I) with Dorte Blase soprano, Elisabeth Berk-Seiz, piano: CD “Clarinet songs” – Cordaria CACD 561 /Liebermann
(2000) http://www.amazon.de  www.klassik.com
Lied & chamber music by Arne/ Lazarus, Bliss, Argento, Bennett, Vaughan Williams, Noble, McCabe. World first recordings of Nobles Cats (cl & pno) and McCabe’s Three Folk Songs op 19
Il) with the Group Canto do Rio/ Wilfried Berk, cl & leader (+ fl, pno, cello, perc ) CD “Brazilian Classics” – Mûsica Brasileira: Heitor Villa-Lobos & Choro-Highlights. Ambitus 97 939 / Musikwelt (1997) / www.bol.de
Works by Villa-Lobos and traditional choros by Pixinguinha, Nazareth, Bittencourt, Araùjo, KXimbinho, Americano, Freire Jr., Azevedo, Ferreira.
Further 3 LPS with E. Berk-Seiz piano: – French Music for clarinet and piano: Poulenc, Milhaud, Widor, SaintSaens THOROFON CAPELLA MTH 205 – Mûsica Brasileira, portrait Claudio Santoro. DUO 1976 (dedicated to the Duo Berk-Seiz ) Ed. Universidade de Brasilia,
– Musik in Herrenhausen: Duos by Weber (Grand Duo), Boieldieu (Sonata) and Schumann (Fantasy-Pieces). Leuenhagen & Paris Stereo 666 521 (available in Brazil ASC155)

email : berk_clarinet@hotmail.com  www.Musikado.com