Belarusian-born American clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov [pronounced: sh-TRY-koff] is quickly gaining renown as an artist of remarkable charisma and extraordinary musicianship, and has been hailed for “clarity that’s viscerally breathtaking” (Lucid Culture). In a review of his debut album MusicWeb International wrote "Shtrykov plays with a luscious, liquid tone of which I am sure Brahms would have approved."

A recipient of the Artists International Special Presentation Award, Maksim made his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall's intimate Weill Recital Hall in 2007. A passionate advocate of clarinet music, he is on a continuous quest of expanding his instrument’s repertoire, bringing to light rarely performed masterpieces by forgotten masters, and pushing the boundaries of the instrument with his transcriptions of the string and woodwind repertoire.

Among his most recent highlights is a release of the debut album Epilogues recorded in collaboration with his duo partner, acclaimed Japanese pianist Misuzu Tanaka. The Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo explores four clarinet sonatas, which were the final chamber works of three leading composers – Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saëns and Francis Poulenc. Each of these composers chose the clarinet as an ultimate outlet of their genius, referring to its rich sound and soulful expression in the late stage of their lives and entrusting in it a lifetime of wisdom and experience. Their fondness for these works have generated critical acclaim from North American and U.K. press: “clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov and pianist Misuzu Tanaka serve up world-class performances of these works that yield nothing to competing catalog versions” (Classics Today)  “there is a real affection behind the enterprise: affection for the composers and between the musicians.” (MusicWeb International)

Maksim’s recent seasons have included appearances with the Amadeus Festival Orchestra and performances across the United States on series such as the Northeast Kingdom Classical Series (VT), Roche Visiting Artist Series (PA), Chamber Music Society of Maryland, Parrish Art Museum Series (NY), Black Hills Chamber Music Society (SD), Cedarhurst Chamber Music (IL), Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society (CA), Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (IL), Rochester Institute of Technology Artist Series, and Summer Stars Classical Series (NJ), among many others.

Since 2022, Maksim has also been performing regularly in Japan with Misuzu Tanaka, with engagements that have included collaborations with members of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in trio and quintet settings. Internationally, his recent performances have taken him to Europe, including appearances at Les Piano Folies du Touquet in France and concerts in Hungary at the Kodály Conservatory of Törökszentmiklós and Nádor Hall in Budapest.

In addition to his duo work, Maksim is the founder and clarinetist of Trio Confero, a New York–based clarinet–cello–piano ensemble formed with pianist Misuzu Tanaka and cellist Julia Kang. The trio continues his long‑standing commitment to championing the superb yet seldom‑performed chamber repertoire for clarinet.

Maksim is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including the International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition (Poland), the “Salieri–Zinetti” International Chamber Music Competition (Italy), and the Dmytro Bida International Woodwind Competition (Ukraine). He began his clarinet studies in his native Belarus and became the first Belarusian clarinetist to be accepted to The Juilliard School, where he earned his Master of Music degree as a scholarship student in the celebrated studio of Charles Neidich.