Paul Schulz was graduated summa cum laude with a music performance degree in clarinet and horn from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and received his Master of Music degree in horn performance from Arizona State University. He has been a member of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra since 1991 (bass clarinet 1991-1999, co-principal 1999-2005, principal 2005-present) and served as its board president for three years. He is also a member of the Minnesota Sinfonia, having served there as principal clarinet since 2011; an Artist Series performing member of Thursday Musical; and plays regularly with the Minnehaha Music Reading Orchestra. He has performed with many local professional and amateur ensembles, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera and St. Paul Civic Symphony. He is the former principal clarinetist of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra and former bass clarinetist of the Greensboro (NC) Symphony Orchestra. An adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas, he teaches private bass and contrabass clarinet students. Also a composer, he has written many works for the Minnesota Sinfonia – for both the classical Winter Concert Series and the Music in Schools programs – and has premiered many of his original works for solo bass clarinet with accompanists Vern Maetzold and Mary Goetz. He holds several insurance industry designations and currently works full-time as a database administrator at an automotive software company. In his spare time he enjoys warm summer evenings in his back yard, games of chance, and playing with his dogs.
