Georgios Karagounis

Georgios Karagkounis was born in 1998 in Kozani, Greece. He lived in Germany since 2017, where he has been developing his musical talent at the renowned Cologne University of Music and Dance in the clarinet class of Prof. Ralph Manno. His journey into the world of music began at a young age when he enthusiastically played the clarinet and quickly discovered his passion for the instrument. He earned his Diploma with the guidance of Kosmas Papadopoulos.
During his studies, Georgios not only perfected his craft, but also participated in numerous masterclasses, benefiting from respected musicians such as Spyros Mourikis, Petko Radev, Miltos Moumoulides, Nicolai Pfeffer, Bernhard Wagner and of course his own teacher, Prof. Ralph Manno.
His musical journey has been marked by numerous successes and awards. Even as a child, Georgios won various competitions and was able to get a taste of the stage at an early age. He has gained extensive experience as a chamber musician and orchestral musician. He has been a member of renowned ensembles such as the MOYSA (Megaron Youth Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki), the G.T.Y.O. (Greek Turkish Youth Orchestra), the M.Y.O. (Mediterranean Youth Orchestra) and the G.Y.S.O. (Greek Youth Symphony Orchestra).
Georgios was not only allowed to play in orchestras, but also had the opportunity to perform as a soloist. He once played with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra (T.S.S.O.) and worked with renowned conductors. In July 2019, he achieved a significant success by winning third prize at the Cluj International Music Competition for Flute and Clarinet. This confirmed his outstanding abilities and opened up further prospects in his musical career.
Another highlight in Georgios' career was his performance in November 2019 in the historic Stadthalle Wuppertal, where he performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Concerto as a soloist with the university orchestra. In addition, his Rigoletto Fantasy by L. Bassi/Giampieri was recorded by WDR 3, demonstrating his versatility and artistic expressiveness.
In July 2021, Georgios completed his Bachelor's degree. In October 2021, he began the Master of Music in Clarinet, which he also successfully completed in July 2023.During this time, he gained valuable experience playing first clarinet with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra (T.S.S.O.) and the Athens State Orchestra (A.S.O.).
In May 2023, Georgios was offered an academy position with the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, which further boosted his artistic development. A few months later he won the audition for the Principal Clarinet position in the same orchestra for the period 2023-2025.
Shortly afterwards, he won a series of performances with the Cologne Clarinet Quartet at the “Dörken Foundation for Chamber Music Ensembles”.
An exciting highlight was the release of his first album “Absence” in June 2023, which includes chamber music for clarinet and piano. This not only represented a significant step in his musical career, but also demonstrated his creativity and dedication as an artist. He successfully passed the entrance exam for the clarinet concert exam master (Konzertexamen Master), which he successfully completed with the highest grade in June 2025.
 Most recently, he was also able to demonstrate his skills at the Stuttgart State Opera and the European Festival Orchestra.
In July 2025 he won the permament Principal Clarinet Position in Thessaloniki State Sympony Orchestra (T.S.S.O.).