Andrew Roberts - Biography

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ANDREW ROBERTS clarinet

Andrew Roberts has developed a solo career that has included performances of the clarinet concertos by Nielsen, Milhaud, Mozart, Finzi, Weber, Stanford and Guy Woolfenden throughout Britain and Europe. As a solo recitalist he has appeared in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society's Contemporary Composers Seminars with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and the late William Mathias. Since 1979 Andrew has worked regularly in most of the major Symphony Orchestras in the UK, playing everything from the Contra-Bass to the E flat clarinet. Of his playing in Tristan und Isolde in February this year, the Financial Times review read "A deep Salaam to the bass clarinet, which carries a rare weight in this score: Andrew Roberts' instrument was darkly, immaculately expressive."

Recent highlights include his performance of the Brahm's Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in the Leblanc gala concert during the 2002 Clarinetfest in Stockholm. He has also appeared as soloist in the 1999 ClarinetFest in Belgium. Andrew gave a recital in 1997 at the International Frankfurt Musikmesse. Following his successful recital at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester the Manchester Evening News said "Nobody is better equipped than Andrew Roberts to work wonders with the instrument. He held centre stage throughout - emphatic, highly expressive and with a technique and command which were a joy to behold." Read the full review

He gave several performances of the Finzi Clarinet Concerto (supported by the Finzi Trust) with the Orchestra of the Mill under Peter Donohoe as well as attending the 1994 International Clarinet Association Conference in Chicago, USA (supported by the Merseyside Development Foundation). He undertook a tour of Belgium as soloist with the Merseyside Youth Orchestra and Edward Warren, following which he gave a performance of Weber's First Concerto at one of the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall's re-opening Gala concerts.

He has broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and appeared in a solo recital for both BBC1 Television and Granada Television, and his engagement in the Bath Festival with the Brodsky Quartet received much critical acclaim.

Andrew is on the staff of the music departments of The University of Liverpool and Hope University College. In April 1994 Andrew was appointed as the Player Endorser for the Leblanc Clarinets in the UK. Since then he has given more than 80 masterclasses and recitals throughout Great Britain to promote the instruments. He has also been involved with the acoustic design and production of Leblanc clarinets.

Since July 1998 Andrew has organised and given a series of highly successful summer schools for clarinettists. The week-long course involved some of the UK's leading players. Students benefited from Andrew's wide experience, as he has studied in Switzerland, Chicago as well as the UK. These courses have attracted students from as far afield as Spain, Italy, Norway and Malta.

In his spare time Andrew enjoys taking part in motor-sports and is reputed to be quite a quick driver. He is currently in negotiation with MacLaren (buggies division!).