Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, musicanship and sheer personal magnetism have
made him one of today's most sought-after concert artists. As soloist with more than a hundred orchestras, as a captivating recitalist and chamber music performer, as an innovative jazz artist, and as a prolific recording artist, two-time Grammy Award winner Stoltzman has defied categorization, dazzling critics and audiences alike throughout many musical genres. Stoltzman graduated from Ohio State University with a double major in Music and Mathematics. He earned his Master of Music degree while studying with Keith Wilson, and and later worked toward a doctoral degree with Kalman Opperman at Columbia University. As a ten year participant in the Marlboro Music Festival, Stoltzman gained extensive chamber music experience and subsequently became a founding member of the noted ensemble TASHI, which made it's debut in 1973.

Since then, Stoltzman's unique way with the clarinet has earned him an international reputation as he has opened up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted. He gave the first clarinet recitals in the histories of both the Hollywood Bowl abd Carnegie Hall, and in 1986 he became the first wind player to be awarded the Avery Fisher Prize. His talents as a jazz performer as well as a classical artist have been heard far beyond his annual tours. He has performed or recorded with with such jazz and pop greats as Gary Burton, The Canadian Brass, Chick Corea, Judy Collins, Eddie Gomez, Keith Jarrett, The King Singers, George Shearing, Wayne Shorter, Mel Torme,and Spyro Gyra founder Jermey Wall. His commitment to new music has resulted in the commissioning and premiere of numerous new concertos and sonatas for the clarinet, including "Landscape with Blues" by Stephen Hartke (2001) and a forthcoming concerto by Einojuhani Rautavaara.