Volker Hemken

Volker Hemken is a top-notch bass clarinetist who's been holding down the solo bass clarinet chair with the prestigious Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig since 1992. He kicked off his studies from 1985 to 1990 at the Hamburg University of Music under Dietrich Hahn, while also diving deep into bass clarinet with Harry Spaarnay in Amsterdam and further training in Basel.

On the recording side, he's got a bunch of cool albums under his belt, like *Bass Clarinet Music* from 2002 featuring collabs with folks like Bernhard Lang, and later ones such as *Dark Wood*, *Dean: Rooms of Elsinore*, and Stockhausen pieces that showcase his mastery of the instrument. Catch him in recitals or with the orchestra if you're into that deep, woody bass clarinet vibe!

Genres

Musique Concrète

Contemporary Classical

Avant-garde

Experimental

Classical

Jazz

Chamber Music

Orchestral

Latest Release

Dark Wood

Volker Hemken

Album - 9 Tracks - Released November 30, 2025