Eugene Lai — Clarinetist-composer

Eugene Lai is a clarinetist-composer from Taipei, Taiwan, active in performance, composition, arrangement, and research. Specializing in the clarinet family—particularly low clarinets—he performs as a soloist, chamber musician, and guest with orchestras across Asia and Europe, including the Taipei Symphony Orchestra and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. His work also spans theater, improvisation, and cross-cultural projects.

He holds a Master of Music from Prins Claus Conservatorium, Hanze UAS Groningen, where he studied bass clarinet with Fie Schouten, and has participated in masterclasses with leading clarinetists across Europe. He was shortlisted for the Messina International Clarinet Competition. Earlier in Taiwan, he received multiple first prizes at the National Student Music Competition in both solo and chamber music categories, as well as the Hsing-Tian-Kong Award.

His performances include the European Clarinet Congress and the Sound of Music Festival in the Netherlands. In 2024, he joined OneBeat Taiwan, an artist residency organized by Found Sound Nation, the U.S. Department of State, and AIT. He is currently artistic director and a founding member of Quintette les jeux d’anches, dedicated to developing new repertoire and performance formats for reed quintet.

Beyond performing and composing, Eugene is committed to teaching and mentoring young musicians, many of whom have already shown strong musical skills and artistry.