Bharat Chandra is a clarinetist whose earnest passion for performance and live interaction with audiences has taken him across the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He currently serves as Principal Clarinet of the Sarasota Orchestra, in Florida. During the summer, he performs as Principal Clarinet of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, under Cristian Măcelaru. He also held the same role for the Nordic Symphony Orchestra Festival, under the direction of Anu Tali, from 2014-2020. Recently, Bharat joined the South Asian Symphony Orchestra, created by Ambassador Nirupama Rao, for its annual mission of peace through music, as its Principal Clarinet.
Recent concerto appearances have included headlining the 50th Anniversary of the International Clarinet Association with the Fort Collins Symphony, the Ringling International Arts Festival, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and the Sarasota Orchestra. At the Cabrillo Festival, Bharat gave the U.S. premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage's clarinet concerto, Riffs and Refrains, to unanimous critical acclaim with Marin Alsop and the Festival Orchestra.
Bharat regularly performs chamber music with members of the orchestra in Sarasota, with the Artist Series of Sarasota, and as a member of EnsembleNewSRQ, Sarasota's premier new music ensemble. Over the last 10 years, he has given his chamber music debuts at Lincoln Center, the Ravinia Festival, and the International Beethoven Festival, with the Lincoln Trio, and he has joined pianist Andrew Armstrong for “Music on Main” in Columbus, South Carolina.
Bharat began his professional studies with Stephen Girko, in Dallas, continuing with Richard Stoltzman at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he was presented the Gunther Schuller Medal upon graduation, and finally through the New World Symphony, in Miami, under Michael Tilson Thomas. He has served as Guest Principal Clarinet of the Sydney Opera House, the Oregon Symphony, and of Music in the Mountains in Colorado.
Bharat maintains a private teaching studio in Sarasota, and he continues to give masterclasses across the country. Bharat is a Yamaha Woodwinds Performing Artist and D'Addario Artist, performing exclusively on Yamaha Custom Series German Clarinets and D'Addario Clarinet Reeds.
