Biography

Wolfgang Durán was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1999. He started playing clarinet at the age of 11, joining the Colombian National Youth Wind Band at age 14. In 2016, he began his formal musical studies at the Conservatory of the Universidad Industrial de Santander, participating as a clarinetist in both the symphony orchestra and symphonic band. He left Colombia in 2017 and subsequently moved to Sweden. He has since resided in Sundsvall, Östersund, Arvika, and Bergen, Norway.

After arriving in Sweden, Durán expanded his musical experience by working with several ensembles, including the Swedish National Wind Band, where he has been a member since 2018 as both clarinetist, conductor and composer. He is also an active freelance musician working as both conductor, clarinetist, saxophonist, music teacher, and composer.

Durán has conducted the Swedish National Wind Band, Dragefjellets Musikkorps, and Nidarholm Musikforening in performances of his own compositions for symphonic band.

In 2019, he resumed his studies in classical music at Birka Folkhögskola in Östersund. In the autumn of 2020, he began studying conducting at Ingesund Music College, where he studied with Mats Backlund and also received lectures and classes at Ingesund Music Conservatory.  Directly after finishing his studies in Ingesund in June 2021, Durán moved to Bergen, Norway to study conducting with his mentor Helge Haukås. In addition, he participated in the Brassband Program at Manger Folkehøgskule and as an invited conducting student at the Grieg Academy, mentored by Bjørn Sagstad.

In Norway, he has had the opportunity to conduct various ensembles including chamber groups, symphonic bands, brass bands, and symphony orchestras. Among others, he has conducted Manger Musikklag, Eikanger Bjørsvik Brass band, Laksevåg Musikklag, Universitets Symfoniorkester, Dragefjellets Wind Band, and Nidarholm Musikkforening. He has also had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with Peter Szilvay, Trond Husebø, and Andreas Hansson, as well as being invited to attend rehearsals of the Bergen National Opera.

In 2022, Durán was appointed  Assistant Conductor of the Swedish National Wind Band, whom he conducted at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, winning a gold medal.

Wolfgang is currently studying bachelor in orchestral conducting under Professor Henrik Schaeffer at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.