Carl Andreas Göepfert (1768 – 1818) was a German virtuoso clarinettist, and composer. Göepfert composed in several genres, including symphonies, concerti, wind ensembles, sonatas, and songs. Carl Andreas Göepfert, in his lifetime salaried Chamber Musician to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, excellent virtuoso on the clarinet and admirable composer, was born on 16 January 1768 in Rimpar near Würzburg, the son of a surgical officer. Initially taught singing, piano and organ by the local schoolmaster, his preference for the clarinet led him in 1780 to the celebrated Würzburg clarinet virtuoso Philipp Meissner, who may also have taught him the rudiments of composition. Göepfert's rapidly acquired phenomenal skill on the clarinet led to his being engaged as first clarinettist of the Meiningen court