Harold Wright (clarinetist)

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Harold Wright was an American clarinetist born on December 4, 1926, in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He started playing clarinet at age twelve and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Ralph McLane. After college he played with the Houston Symphony, then became principal clarinetist of the Dallas Symphony. He later led the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., before joining the Boston Symphony Orchestra as principal clarinetist in 1970, a position he held until his death in 1993. He also served seven seasons as principal clarinetist of the Casals Festival Orchestra.

Wright was a renowned chamber musician. He performed with the Marlboro Festival, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, and with leading string quartets such as the Juilliard, Guarneri, Budapest and Vermeer Quartets. He appeared as a guest artist at major festivals and venues including the Lincoln Center Chamber Players, the Mostly Mozart Festival, and the 92nd Street Y. His recordings cover a wide range of repertoire, including works by Mozart, Brahms, Schubert and Stravinsky. He also performed as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa.

In addition to performing, Wright taught at the Tanglewood Music Center, the New England Conservatory and Boston University. He died on August 11, 1993, in Marlboro, Vermont, at the age of 66.