Bio english

Adrian Mira clarinetist / saxophonist / composer / educator

Clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and educator Adrian Mira was born in 1973 in Uster, Switzerland. He is s graduate of the Acamdemy of Music Winterthur (1995-2000, clarinet diploma "cum laude"). 

After about 10 years of living and working in New York City (2004-2014) Mira is now based again in Switzerland and focuses on composing, performing as well as teaching in various settings. His music is strongly melodic while being influenced by an eclectic mixture of styles including jazz, classical, pop, Klezmer, Indian, Brazilian as well as other genres that he came across during his vast array of performing and listening experience up to date (read below)  In 2010 he produced his first album as a leader entitled “Acoustic Journeys”, an album consisting of 12 pieces of Adrian Mira on clarinet and alto saxophone, recorded in New York City featuring Francis Jacob (guitar, France/USA), Clay Schaub (double bass, USA) and special guest George Mel (percussion, Georgia/USA) on 6 tunes of the album. 

In 2017, Mira recorded a piano solo CD called "Mornings" that reflects a different side of his musical work. The album includes 9 improvisations on a (baby) grand piano in a more meditative tone and mode. Each  improvisation is around 5 minutes long and was recorded By himself. This is not a studio production and should not be compared with the level of a professional pianist, but nevertheless it is an interesting addition in Mr. Mira's portfolio and musical work.  

End of April 2018, Mira recorded a new album of his original music together with Ramon Ziegler (piano, Switzerland), Haggai Cohen-Milo (bass, Israel/USA/Germany), Tupac Mantilla (percussion, drums, Colombia/USA/Germany) in Winterthur. The album isn't released yet as this takes some time, but hopefully will be released soon. It will include 10 pieces in the jazz genre with various world/ethnic influences.   

Mr. Mira has performed at venues in Europe such as Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), 
Jazz Club Moods (Zurich, Switzerland), Tonhalle Zurich (Switzerland), Jazzfestival Konstanz (Germany), Sugrizimai Festival (Lithuania), Music festival Valencia (Spain). Further, he played countless concerts in all 5 boroughs of New York City including venues such as Shapeshifter Lab (Brooklyn), Zinc Bar (Manhattan), Barbes (Brooklyn). Mr.Mira had the chance to share the stage with orchestras such as the Symphony Orchestra Basel, Symphony Orchestra St.Gallen the Long Island Philharmonics (USA). He was special guest with various singers such as Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast), Sofia Rei (Argentina, USA, who works among others with John Zorn),  Swiss/Nigerian Soul Queen Nubya, Eliane (Switzerland/USA) 

In earlier years, Mira was for many years the clarinetist/saxophonist of the World Jazz band "Kamala" that played numerous concerts and Jazz festivals in Europe from 1998-2004. Currently Mira is a frequent guest on clarinet with the group "Bendorim" that focuses on yiddish songs. He also is a constant member of the group "Dela's Swingthing", performing tunes from the swing area (clarinet). Furthermore, he was/is the clarinetist of the group "Querbeat" that fuses Gypsy music with celtic sounds. Querbeat played 2015 at the Montreux Jazz Festival. 

Mira's performing  experience also includes having been the clarinetist of the NYC based Off Broadway shows "Picon Pie" (2005-2006) and "A stoop on Orchard Street" (2004), performing close to 200 shows of each production in New York City and other states. Additionally, he was a member of Zamba2samba that performed frequently in New York City (Brazilian music, older sambas etc ), he was the clarinetist of the Jazzband "Pomaswank", clarinetist/saxophonist  "Uthan Project" (fusing Indian and Western music), to name just a few.

Besides his vast array of performing credentials, Adrian Mira is also an experienced instructor: Currently he is teaching saxophone and band at Musikschule Solothurn as well as "Klassenmusizieren" (MKZ - music school and conservatory Zurich) at public schools:  4th and 5th graders learning wind instruments in a class setting, most of them without previous knowledge.  

2006-2014 Mira was teaching the fundamentals of clarinet, saxophone, recorder and - occasionally - flute at public schools in New York City . During those 8 years, Adrian Mira was a frequent and regular collaborator with the Bronx Arts Ensemble, a professional performance ensemble with a year round schedule of chamber music and orchestral concerts, as well as special programs for families and full arts-in-education program for public schools in the Bronx and Manhattan. 
It is his goal to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for music with the youth and help them to embark on their own "Acoustic Journeys" through the diverse world of music.  







Adrian Mira - short bio in german (Kurzbio in deutsch)