Wilfried Karl Berk grew up in Rio de Janeiro/ Brazil, where he was born as a son of German immigrants in 1940. He studied at the National Academy of Music in Rio with Prof. Jayoleno dos Santos.
After his graduation he became a member of the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira (OSB) and was a founding- member of the Quinteto Villa-Lobos in 1962. Events with the Quinteto in 1964: – Caravana da Cultura, touring Northeastern Brazil – and a tournée through South America in official mission of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations – concerts in Buenos Aires, Rosario, Santiago, Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Asunciôn, Montevideo (May-June).
In Nov 1964 Berk obtained both positions of a professor for clarinet at the University of Bahia and principal clarinet in the orchestra in Salvador/ Bahia. Since May ’67 living in Germany after advance studies (thanks to a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service) with Diploma in Berlin (Prof Heinrich Geuser).
He worked as an orchestra musician in Marl (Philharmonia Hungarica) and Stuttgart Philharmonic. For over 30 years he has had a teaching position in Hanover/ Germany, this in addition to his activities as a clarinet soloist and chamber musician, as an arranger and editor of his own publications – records, the clarinet involving articles (example: “The Large Presence of the Boehm Clarinet at the CD Market“ (Magazin rohrblatt, 1998) and music scores: Clarinetto Arioso & Clarinetto Virtuoso (editor Simrock/ Benjamin, Hamburg-London).
Some steps of his career: winner of the Youth competition for soloists of the OSB – yearly, from 1960 to 1964: teaching assignment as a clarinet professor at the University of Salvador/ Bahia and principal clarinetist at the symphony orchestra there (from 1964 to 1967). Features: 1° Festival Internacional de Mûsica do Rio de Janeiro (Rio,1963), laureate at the Intern. Chamber Music Competition (with an Villa-Lobos Ensemble) at Colmar/ France / Intern. Study for Clarinetists (Queekhoven/ Netherlands in 1971, Festival da Bahia (1975), Semana da Mûsica Brasileira em Bonn/ Bad Hersfelder Festspielkonzerte (Germany,1975), Famiglia Menighina di Milano (Italy,1977), Incontri Musical] a Venezia 1980: Congrès International de la Clarinette à Paris, visit to the Maison Vandoren (France,1981) ). Participation to international music camps – with Jost Michaels (Trossingen/ Germany,1983), Jacques Lancelot, Walter Boeykens (Holland, 1971), John McCaw (Paris, 1981), Lateinamerikatage Dortmund 1992: Kulturkaleidoskop/ EXPO 2000 (Hanover).
Performances as a clarinet soloist: – with orchestra conducted by Eleazar de Carvalho, Alceu Bocchino, Jayoleno dos Santos, Vicente Fittipaldi, Victor Tevah, Sergio Magnani and Isaac Karabtchevsky, playing concertos by Mozart (K.622), Weber (op. 26, 73 & 74), Johann Stamitz and Franz Krommer, – with the Pandula-Quartet and the Quarteto de Cordas de São Paulo (Quintets by Mozart, Brahms and Arthur Bliss) – with the Clarion Ensemble/ Collegio col Clarinetto (Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro ). Many recordings and recitals in Europe and South-America (the main repertory for Duo) and broadcasting with his wife – the pianist Elisabeth Berk- Seiz.