Biography
Oliver Shermacher is a multi-award winning clarinettist and performer, known for his virtuosic, unique and eccentric performances. Oliver won the 2022 Aeolus competition as well as receiving the Audience Prize, 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 is a winner of the Australian Freedman Fellowship and was a ABC Young Performers Award Finalist, where he also received the Audience Choice award. Oliver has performed as soloist with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble 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. 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.
In his Solo playing, Oliver has commissioned many composers to write pieces for clarinet that combine theatre, electronics, dance and movement. Oliver has created many solo shows that combine all of these elements into immersive theatrical installations. He also works closely developing creative education projects with the Australian Youth Orchestra, with a particular focus on students with disabilities. 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 is a winner of the Australian Freedman Fellowship and was a ABC Young Performers Award Finalist, where he also received the Audience Choice award. Oliver has performed as soloist with the Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Apex Ensemble 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. 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.
In his Solo playing, Oliver has commissioned many composers to write pieces for clarinet that combine theatre, electronics, dance and movement. Oliver has created many solo shows that combine all of these elements into immersive theatrical installations. He also works closely developing creative education projects with the Australian Youth Orchestra, with a particular focus on students with disabilities. He plays klezmer and jazz as well as historical clarinets and in his spare time loves to cook, read and listen to Cat Stevens.
