José Franch-Ballester, is recognized as one of the most outstanding clarinettists and a great educator of his generation. He has been lauded for his technical skill and tireless dedication, as described by The New York Times and his subtle and consummate artistry, as cited by the Santa Barbara Independent. His career has been distinguished with awards such as the Young Artist of The Year award at the MIDEM Awards in Cannes, France; the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2008 in New York; the First Prize in the Young Concert Artists in 2004 in New York and Astral Artists 2004 in Philadelphia.

Currently, he combines his work as a professor of clarinet and chamber music at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, with his concert tours and master classes around the world. He is a frequent contributor to The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York and is principal clarinettist of the Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara, USA.

Franch-Ballester has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras, such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, Spanish Radio Television Symphony Orchestra, Valencia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, City of London Sinfonia, Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra from Spain, among others.

Franch-Ballester has recorded for labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Armonia Mundi, Itinerant Classics, and Warner Music. He has also built a strong presence on social media and on YouTube, creating a wide variety of videos that have amassed over 3,000,000 views.

Born in Moncofa, Spain, into a family of musicians, José Franch-Ballester began his clarinet studies at the age of nine with Venancio Rius. He completed his higher education at the Joaquín Rodrigo Conservatory of Music in Valencia and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (United States), where he studied with Donald Montanaro and Ricardo Morales.

Franch-Ballester is sponsored by Backun Musical Services and Legere Reeds.