About Egīls ...
Young and extraordinary talented Latvian clarinetist Egīls Šēfers is being acclaimed by critics as "a musician, who can mesmerize with virtuosity and acrobatics, at the same time touching with pure, deeply sensitive and intimate expression." Mr. Šēfers has frequently appeared on stages in the country of his origin - Latvia, on several occasions soloing with Latvian National Symphony orchestra, giving solo and chamber music recitals in major cities of Latvia, and has collaborated extensively with many Latvian composers, promoting and often premiering their compositions for clarinet and inspiring creation of new works for this instrument.
He has collaborated with such composers as Andris Dzenītis, Jānis Petraškēvičs, Mārīte Dombrovska, Ēriks Ešenvalds and many others. While studying in Riga, Mr. Šēfers became a prizewinner in several national and international clarinet competitions, such as 1996 International Concertino Praha competition, several Latvian Clarinetist's Society Young Performing Artists Competitions, International Young Performing-Artists Television Competition Alternative '97, 2000 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Award and 2001 Andrejs Jurjāns 5th International Competition for Wind Instruments (1st prize).
After arriving in United States to continue his musical studies at the graduate level, Mr. Šēfers has given numerous solo recitals during past two years, delighting audiences in Boston, New York, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Dallas and other major cities. His efforts have been rewarded with such nominations as Butler University's Outstanding Performer Award and Ensemble Member of the Year Awards. In 2003 Mr. Šēfers received an Honorary Citizenship of the City of Dallas, Texas. In January 2004 he participated in a chamber music recital with violinist Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Musica. In year 2005 and 2006 Mr. Šēfers was a finalist of the Principal Clarinet auditions for Finnish Radio Symphony, Malmö Symphony, and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestras. In years 2007 - 2008 Egīls held Principal clarinet position in Odense Symphony Orchestra, Denmark.
Mr. Šēfers holds the Master of Music degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he studied with Dr. John Graulty. He also received a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from J. Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Prof. Ģirts Pāže class, and has participated in master classes and studied privately with Kjell-Inge Stevenson, Richard Stoltzman, Kalmen Opperman, John Manassee, Alfred Prinz, Eddy Vanoosthuyse, Richard Hawkins, Luis Rossi and Charles Neidich. He has been a recipient of numerous scholarship awards such as TILTS Exceptional Artists Award and Erasmus-Socrates scholarship award from European Union. Mr. Šēfers currently is pursuing a Doctor of Music degree in clarinet performance, studying with world-renowned clarinetist Eli Eban at Indiana University, Bloomington.
For the last two years Mr. Šēfers has been studying classical clarinet with world renown early music specialist Eric Hoeprich at IU Early Music Institute. Most recent performances include participation in 2006 Bloomington Early Music Festival and performances as a Principal Clarinet of IU Classical Orchestra in Chicago and Bloomington.
