Violinist Clemens Merkel is considered one of the most versatile interpreters of
contemporary music today. Integrating a large variety of different styles into his
repertoire, he has performed at numerous concerts and festivals throughout Europe and
North America. Pursuing a career as chamber musician and soloist he is a member of
the Bozzini Quartet (Montréal), as well as playing regularly with Kore Ensemble
(Montréal).
Well known for his innovative and highly individualistic interpretations of such
contrasting composers as Bach and John Cage, Merkel has made a name for himself for
creating his own unconventional style, often characterized as intense, precise and
sensitive at the same time.
Born in Freiburg (Germany), Clemens Merkel lives in Montréal (Canada) since 1999.
He studied at the Musikhochschule Freiburg with Joerg Hofmann and Nicolas Chumachenco
and is a former member of Thuermchen Ensemble (Köln) and Ensemble SurPlus (Freiburg).
He currently teaches at Concordia University in Montréal.