Harry Hwang is a South Korean clarinetist 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. He also served as the Clarinet Fellow and/or as an associate member for Sewanee Summer Music Festival, National Music Festival, and National Repertory Orchestra for two consecutive years. Recent engagements 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 clarinet students in the San Francisco/Bay Area for over five years. In his private studio, students received acceptances to many Colleges/Universities, including Oberlin, UCLA, and UC Berkeley with scholarships. 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 also is an active member in the San Francisco community where he has engagements with local colleges and high schools for working with clarinet students. He is currently serving as the clarinet clinician for Carlmont High School. In the past, he has given masterclasses for clarinetists for Hillsdale, Aragon, San Leandro, and Lynbrook High Schools as well as Miller and Ralston Schools.