Carjez Gerretsen

Born in 1984 in the Netherlands, Carjez Gerretsen early on followed in his musician father’s footsteps and chose the clarinet as his means of expression. His studies led him to meet and study with renowned professors such as Michel Lethiec at the CNR de Nice, Jacques Di Donato, Nicolas Baldeyrou at the CNSM de Lyon, and Jean-Noël Crocq at the CNSM de Paris, to name just a few clarinetists. In 2009, he won the third prize at the international Crusell competition in Finland as well as the prize at the international competition in Freiburg.

Since then, he has occasionally performed as a soloist with ensembles such as the Regional Orchestra of Cannes, the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of the New Europe. Since his time with the French Youth Orchestra in 2006 under the direction of Jean-Claude Casadesus, he has nurtured his love for symphonic repertoire by regularly being invited to play with prestigious orchestras in France.

His curiosity has led him to new discoveries, encounters, and surprises. Initially, he ventured into the world of theater by collaborating with Julie Brochen (La Périchole by Offenbach in 2006), who later asked him to compose music for her staging of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. He became increasingly drawn to unconventional projects, alternating between stage productions, itinerant shows, and exploring various musical genres, as exemplified by his ongoing collaboration with the multifaceted ensemble Virévolte led by Aurore Bucher, as well as participating in various tours with the Justiniana ensemble.

Additionally, chamber music remains the essence of his musical practice. Invited by various festivals, he seeks to redefine its boundaries with the Polygones ensemble and is currently working with pianist Pierre Chalmeau on a project centered around German lieder. Furthermore, he is deeply invested in contemporary music. Seeking to understand the challenges of contemporary creation, he performs with ensembles such as L’Itinéraire, Multilatéral, or Calliopée, but it is his collaboration with Thierry Pecou that has inspired him to commit to this genre by becoming a member of his Ensemble Variances since 2010.

After teaching at the Asnières-sur-Seine conservatory from 2011 to 2013, he now dedicates himself to his career as a performer while also engaging in teaching through masterclasses and educational activities related to his work.