Biography
Oliver Shermacher is a multi-award winning clarinettist and performer, known for his virtuosic, unique and eccentric performances. Oliver received the 1st Prize and Audience Prize at the 2022 Aeolus Competition and has been living between Australia and Germany performing as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral clarinettist with prominent German and Australian orchestras. He completed his Bachelor of Music at the Sydney Conservatorium with Francesco Celata and his Masters at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg with Kilian Herold and Anton Hollich.
Oliver has performed as soloist with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble, Vogtland Philharmonie, Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie and was the Artist in Residence with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra for their 2021/2022 Season, having premiered the Alice Chance Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra in 2022. As a chamber musician he has performed at the Lockenhaus Festival with Nicolas Altstaedt, as well as the Schleswig Holstein, Kissinger, Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festivals. He has performed as Principal Clarinet with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Freiburg Philharmonisches Orchestra as well as guest with SWR Symphonieorchester and the Australian World Orchestra.
Oliver is a winner of the Australian Freedman Fellowship and was a ABC Young Performers Award Finalist, where he also received the Audience Choice award. In his Solo playing, Oliver specialises in combining theatre, electronics, dance and movement and has created many solo shows and immersive theatrical installations. He utilises these skills in working closely with the Australian Youth Orchestra to develop creative education projects with a particular focus on students with disabilities. He has also won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Sound Design for his theatrical adaptation of "Symphonie Fantastique" with the Little Eggs Theatre Company. He plays klezmer and jazz as well as historical clarinets and in his spare time loves to cook, read and listen to Cat Stevens.
Oliver has performed as soloist with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble, Vogtland Philharmonie, Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie and was the Artist in Residence with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra for their 2021/2022 Season, having premiered the Alice Chance Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra in 2022. As a chamber musician he has performed at the Lockenhaus Festival with Nicolas Altstaedt, as well as the Schleswig Holstein, Kissinger, Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festivals. He has performed as Principal Clarinet with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Freiburg Philharmonisches Orchestra as well as guest with SWR Symphonieorchester and the Australian World Orchestra.
Oliver is a winner of the Australian Freedman Fellowship and was a ABC Young Performers Award Finalist, where he also received the Audience Choice award. In his Solo playing, Oliver specialises in combining theatre, electronics, dance and movement and has created many solo shows and immersive theatrical installations. He utilises these skills in working closely with the Australian Youth Orchestra to develop creative education projects with a particular focus on students with disabilities. He has also won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Sound Design for his theatrical adaptation of "Symphonie Fantastique" with the Little Eggs Theatre Company. He plays klezmer and jazz as well as historical clarinets and in his spare time loves to cook, read and listen to Cat Stevens.
