Julian Bliss is one of the world’s finest clarinettists, excelling as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, jazz artist, and masterclass leader. Julian started playing the clarinet aged four and went on to study in the United States at the University of Indiana and in Germany under Sabine Meyer.

In recital and chamber music he has played at the world’s leading festivals and halls, including Gstaad, New York’s Lincoln Center, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Verbier and London’s Wigmore Hall. As a soloist, he has appeared with a wide range of international orchestras, including the Auckland Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Paris, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sao Paolo Symphony and the Queensland Symphony.

This season, Bliss performs Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. He visits New Zealand to participate in the At The World's Edge Festival and performs the world premiere of Ross Harris’ Clarinet Concerto as well as Artie Shaw's Clarinet Concerto with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

In 2010, Bliss established the Julian Bliss Septet, creating programmes inspired by the King of Swing, Benny Goodman, and a show built around the extraordinary musical output of George Gershwin. A recording of the Gershwin programme I Got Rhythm released in 2021 received rave reviews – “impressive recording by talented clarinettist Julian Bliss and his excellent Septet [...] Bliss’s quick-fire clarinet starts weaving free-flowing improvisational lines around the tune from the very outset [...] jaw-dropping, side-stepping vibes solo [...] the whole ensemble is on fire” – Gramophone. The Septet has performed to packed houses across the US and in European festivals, at Ronnie Scott’s (London) and Live from Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York).

With the launch of Bliss Music in 2020, Julian’s arrangements of a selection of pieces for clarinet and piano have been made available as sheet music. These include Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata Op. 19, the third movement of which has been set as a Grade 6 piece on the new London College of Music clarinet syllabus.

Julian is a Buffet Crampon and Vandoren performing artist.

2026 ARTISTS

RAJA HALDER

MARTIN COUSIN

FIONA BONDS

TIM LOWE

KATHERINE JENKINSON

JACK LIEBECK

FRANCIS KEFFORD

TOBY HUGHES

JULIAN BLISS

RUTH ROGERS

NICHOLAS HOLLAND

AQUINAS PIANO TRIO