Burt Hara

Burt Hara has been principal clarinetist with the Minnesota Orchestra since 1987.

Hara is a native of California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 from the Curtis Institute of Music, where his principal teachers were Donald Montanaro, Yehuda Gilad, and Mitchell Lurie.

Before coming to Minnesota, Hara served as principal clarinet of the Alabama Symphony. In 1996, Hara was appointed Principal Clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra by Wolfgang Sawallisch, but returned to Minnesota the following year. As a teacher, Hara has held positions at the University of Alabama and the University of Montevallo, and now currently is a clarinet instructor at the University of Minnesota and serves on the faculty at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Hara currently resides in Minneapolis with his family.