The clarinettist Nikolaus Friedrich studied with Hermut Giesser and Karl-Heinz Lautner at the Musikhochschulen in Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. After graduating with distinction he participated in master-classes in England with Thea King and Anthony Pay. Since 1984 he has been principal clarinettist in the Mannheim National Theatre Orchestra. In addition to appearances as a soloist at the Würzburg Mozart Festival and the Berlin Festival Weeks, he is active in chamber music, appearing with the Nomos, Henschel and Mandelring Quartets, Trio Opus 8, and with his duo partner Thomas Palm. He is strongly involved in the performance of contemporary music.