ABOUT 

Emil Jonason has been acclaimed by critics across Sweden, Europe, and the United States as "the Yngwie Malmsteen of the clarinet," possessing "the aura of a rock star" and "raising the bar for what can be expected from a clarinetist." 

Jonason's impressive career includes solo appearances with renowned orchestras such as Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Stockholm, Göteborgs Symfoniker, Symfoniorkest Vlaanderen and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra in the USA. His performances have graced some of Europe’s most prestigious venues, including Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna's Musikverein, and Paris's Cité de la Musique. In 2019, he gained notable recognition by winning the Kaleidoscope International Vocal and Instrumental Competition in Los Angeles with Emmy Lindström's clarinet concerto "At the Hills of Hampstead Heath."

In addition to his solo career, Jonason has performed over 10 concerts as a playing conductor, leading orchestras like Musica Vitae and Camerata Nordica on multiple tours, including notable works such as Emmy Lindström's "At the Hills of Hampstead Heath" and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. 

Since 2023, he has worked as the principal clarinetist of the Swedish Wind Ensemble (Blåsarsymfonikerna) and teaching as a Senior Lecturer at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and Mälardalens University in Västerås, where he shapes the next generation of clarinetists.

Press 

Emil Jonason has been described by critics across Sweden, Europe, and the United States as "the Yngwie Malmsteen of the clarinet," with "the aura of a rock star." He is noted for "raising the bar for what can be expected from a clarinetist" and being "a magician who uses his instrument as a silver bullet exceeding classical norms," often eliciting disbelief from audiences: "Can the clarinet really be played like this?"

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Born in 1983 on Värmdö, an island outside Stockholm, Jonason began his musical journey at the age of ten, selecting the clarinet due to its short waiting list at the local music school. His passion for the instrument quickly grew, influenced by a love for jazz inherited from his father, an amateur jazz clarinetist. Early exposure to jazz legends such as Benny Goodman, Sidney Bechet, and Spike Jones played a significant role in shaping his musical development.

Education and Early Career

As a teenager, Jonason's musical interests expanded at Södra Latins Yrkesmusikerlinje in Stockholm, where he honed his skills in classical and jazz genres. He played in symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, and Klezmer/Balkan music groups, laying the foundation for his distinctive performance style.

At 17, Jonason was accepted into the prestigious Kungliga Musikhögskolan in Stockholm, studying under notable clarinetists including Hermann Stefánsson, Martin Fröst, Kjell-Inge Stevensson, and taking courses with Yehuda Gilad. His early recognition came at 21 when he won the Solofoni competition in Helsingborg, performing Nielsen's clarinet concerto with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. His 2008 diploma concert featured John Corigliano's clarinet concerto with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

The 2009/10 season saw Jonason named a "Rising Star" by the European Concert Hall Organization, leading to performances at Europe's most prestigious venues such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna's Musikverein, and Paris's Cité de la Musique. His long-standing collaboration with pianist Peter Friis Johansson has been a hallmark of his career, with the duo performing together extensively.

In 2012, Jonason's career reached a milestone with a solo performance at the Nobel Prize Ceremony, broadcast live worldwide. In 2013, he was invited by conductor Marin Alsop to the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in the United States and premiered Christian Lindberg's clarinet concerto "Herr Grönstedts Underliga Drömmar" with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

Recent Achievements and Tours

Jonason's career saw new heights in 2019 when he won the Kaleidoscope International Vocal and Instrumental Competition in Los Angeles with Emmy Lindström's clarinet concerto "At the Hills of Hampstead Heath," which has become a significant part of his repertoire. He has performed this concerto over 20 times across Sweden and the Nordic countries, each performance met with critical acclaim. Additionally, he recorded the concerto alongside Mozart's clarinet concerto, with the album achieving over three million streams on Spotify and Apple Music.

Jonason has performed over 10 concerts as a playing conductor, leading orchestras such as Musica Vitae and Camerata Nordica on multiple tours. These tours featured works including Lindström's "At the Hills of Hampstead Heath" and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. His innovative spirit was further showcased during his tenure as Artist-In-Residence at Kulturhuset Spira in Jönköping during the 2022/23 season, including the world premiere of Emmy Lindström's second clarinet concerto, "I'll tell you how the sun rose."

Teaching and Current Role

Since 2023, Jonason has served as the principal clarinetist of the Swedish Wind Ensemble (Blåsarsymfonikerna). He also continues to shape the next generation of clarinetists as a Senior Lecturer at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and at the Academy of Music and Opera at Mälardalens University in Västerås.