Born in 1965 in Todtnau, Erich Wagner studied Clarinet with Dieter Klöcker at the Freiburg Conservatory. Subsequently, he took postgraduate courses with Hans Pfeifer in Mannheim. He has been living in Berlin since 1993 and is principal clarinetist with the Dessau Anhalt Philharmonic Orchestra. His penchant for contemporary music was developed at the Institute for New Music at the Freiburg Conservatory and while working with the composer Dieter Mack. The years he spent with the Ensemble Surplus and his collaboration with James Avery further honed his interest and openness for all aspects of modern music. Apart from his work as a soloist, orchestra- and chamber musician, Erich Wagner has studied conducting at the Leipzig Conservatory and has led performances and CD recordings of his ensembles, unitedberlin and SurPlus, at festivals around the world.