Prize winner at the ARD International Competition in Munich, the Geneva International Competition and of the WEMAG Soloist Prize at the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Carlos Ferreira captivates audiences with his artistry, refined sound and stage presence.
Born in Paredes, Portugal, he was a student of José Ricardo Freitas at the José Atalaya Music Academy and ARTAVE, having completed his degree with Nuno Pinto. He then studied with Michel Arrignon and Enrique Pérez Piquer at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid and continued his studies with Arno Piters at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and with Florent Héau in Lausanne.
A member of the Academy of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 2016, Ferreira pursued his orchestral career at first with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo.
As of August 2025, Carlos Ferreira is principal clarinet of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He takes on his new position in August 2025. Previously he held the same position with the Orchestre National de France, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Orchestre National de Lille.
In addition, Ferreira enjoys an extensive international career as soloist and chamber musician, performing at the at the world’s major festivals and venues.
As soloist, he appeared with the orchestras such as Orchestre National de France, the Münchener Rundfunkorchester, the Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Prague Philharmonia, the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève and the Collegium Musicum Basel.
As a chamber musician, he has worked with such musicians such as Hilary Hahn, Alice Sara Ott, Emmanuel Pahud, Eric le Sage, Timothy Ridout, Julia Hage, and Quatuor Hermès. In 2022 he released the album XX-XXI with pianist and composer Pedro Emanuel Pereira.
Carlos was selected as a European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) Rising Star for the 2024/25 season. As such, he performed in Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Concertgebouw’s Recital Hall.