Harry Hwang is a South Korean native clarinetist currently residing in the Bay Area. He graduated from the University of Michigan (BM) as a recipient of full-scholarship, and the Eastman School of Music (MM) with merit scholarship. Additionally, he attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for a Post-Masters Certificate. From his time in high school to graduate school, he studied extensively with members from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, and Pacific Symphony Orchestra. While studying at the University of Michigan, Harry served as principal clarinet in the new critical rendition of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, which received critical acclaim from the media and special mention from the Chicago Tribune Magazine. In the previous year, he recorded segments from the Bach’s Violin Partita No. 3 In E Major which gained popularity with over 100,000 views from media platforms and has started a duet chain among other musicians across the country.
Harry is currently a tenured member of the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera under Maestro Ari Pelto, a position he won in 2025. In addition, he has frequent invitations from the New World Symphony to perform in Miami, Florida. Every holiday season, he can be heard in performances of the Nutcracker at the Safe Credit Performing Arts Hall with the Sacramento Ballet. In previous seasons, he served as an associate member with the New World Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition, Harry has performed with several orchestras around the United States, including: New World Symphony, Houston Symphony, New York State Ballet Orchestra, Ann Arbor Camerata, Modesto, and Merced Symphony. Throughout the season, he maintains an active performing schedule.
He also served as the Clarinet Fellow at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and has been selected to participate as alternate with the National Repertory Orchestra for two consecutive years. He has also been invited to participate in the National Music Festival this past year. Recent engagement include the PRISMA Music Festival in British Canada where he shared the stage with faculty performers and was a semifinalist in the annual Concerto Competition.
As a teacher, Harry has taught extensively at numerous academies in the San Francisco/Bay Area for over five years. In his private studio, students received acceptances to many Colleges/Universities, including UCLA, and UC Berkeley. His students have also gotten accepted to California All-State Honor Ensemble, California Youth Symphony, Peninsula Youth Orchestra, and San Jose Youth Symphony. Recently, one of his high school students received the prestigious John Phillip Sousa Award; a national award given to a member of a high school band in recognition of superior musicianship and outstanding dedication to music. Last year, one of his students won the annual Concerto Competition with Peninsula Youth Symphony and had the honor of performing the Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major with the orchestra. He previously has worked with Music Land School, Gloria School of Music, Almaden School of Music, Scherzo Music School, and Inspire Music School in addition to his own private studio. He also is an active member in the San Francisco community where he often has engagements with local schools for guest teaching clarinet students. He is currently serving as the clarinet clinician for Carlmont High School, Miller and Ralston Schools. In the past, he has coached clarinetists for Aragon High School, San Leandro High School, and Lynbrook High School.