It all started in Portugal, back in 2001.
Portuguese clarinetist Vitor Fernandes is widely recognized as one of the leading clarinetists of his generation. A Buffet Crampon and Vandoren artist, he is acclaimed for his musical sensitivity, refinement, and technical mastery.
As Romain Guyot, Principal Clarinet of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, puts it:
“His great sensitivity, his deep musicality, his elegance and refinement combined with a total control of sound, breath and technique is unparalleled.”
Vitor gained international recognition after winning First Prize at the 2017 Ghent International Clarinet Competition and Second Prize at the 73rd Geneva International Music Competition in 2018. Since then, he has developed a multifaceted career that encompasses solo appearances, chamber music, orchestral collaborations, and an expanding commitment to education.
He has performed as a soloist with renowned ensembles such as the Brussels Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Kammerorchester Basel, L’Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Győr Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides, the United Nations Orchestra, Orquestra de Câmara de Cascais e Oeiras, Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa, and the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra. His concerto repertoire spans from the clarity and elegance of Mozart and Spohr, to the expressive modernism of Tomasi and Nielsen, as well as contemporary works by composers such as Frank Ticheli.
As a Guest Principal Clarinetist, Vitor has worked with many of Europe’s foremost orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, SWR Symphonieorchester Stuttgart, Bergen Philharmonic, and the Opéra de Lyon, performing under the direction of conductors such as, Lahav Shani, Klaus Mäkelä, Paavo Järvi, Robin Ticciati, Daniele Rustioni, Mikko Franck, Domingo Hindoyan, and Vasily Petrenko. As a soloist, he has collaborated with Nayden Todorov, Pierre Bleuse, Lucie Leguay, Nuno Coelho, and Kevin Griffiths.
He is also actively engaged in chamber music collaborations, having performed with distinguished artists such as Dmitry Shishkin, Theo Fouchenneret, Elina Vähälä, Anna Egholm, and the Quatuor Voce.
His recent and upcoming schedule includes an extensive solo tour through Asia, with performances and masterclasses in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Zhengzhou (China), followed by a tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. In early 2025-2026 season, he will appear at the Seoul Winter Music Festival, and continue his performance and teaching activities in Switzerland, Norway, Italy, France and Portugal, where he holds a residency in São João da Madeira, performing alongside the Matosinhos String Quartet (former ECHO Rising Stars).
Deeply committed to music education, Vitor is a sought-after pedagogue. In 2025, he launched a masterclass series in Paris, beginning with a session at the Buffet Crampon Showroom, which he intends to further develop as a recurring educational initiative for young clarinetists.
He has also given masterclasses at institutions such as the National Taipei University of the Arts, Korean National University of Arts, HAMU Prague, Hochschule für Musik Detmold, Beijing Central Conservatory, SOTA Singapore, and CODARTS Rotterdam, among others. His teaching engagements span festivals and institutions across Europe, Asia, and South America.
His performances have been broadcast by Portuguese National Radio and Television, Radio Télévision Suisse, France Musique, Bartók Radio Hungary, and National Radio of Slovenia.
Vitor completed his Master’s Diploma at the Haute École de Musique de Genève in 2018, where he received the Sih-Woo Cardinaux-Chang Prize, and earned his Diplôme de Soliste with distinction and jury honors in 2020.
When not performing or teaching, he enjoys exploring Portugal’s natural landscapes and hiking trails.