Georg Klaas has been Principal Clarinetist, frequent soloist, and featured chamber musician of the Toledo Symphony since 2001. Before that time, he had been pursuing doctoral studies in music at the University of Southern California where he earned the distinguished Mitchell Lurie Award in 2001. Mr. Klaas holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint John’s University. His principal teachers include Eli Eban, Yehuda Gilad and Joaquin Valdepenas. Mr. Klaas has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and the New World Symphony as well as numerous regional orchestras throughout the country. His recent festival engagements include the Aspen Festival, where he held a fellowship position from 2001-2002, the Sarasota Music Festival, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Festival. Mr. Klaas joined the University of Toledo faculty in 2004.