The Clarinet Web Site
Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service
ANDREW ROBERTS clarinet
In addition to a solo career that has included performances throughout Europe of many of the most taxing clarinet concertos, Andrew Roberts has developed his work as a specialist in clarinet design and customisation, working with top professional European players.
Since 1979 Andrew has continued to perform regularly in most of the major symphony orchestras in the UK, playing everything from soloist to contra-bass and the E flat clarinet.
As a solo recitalist, he has appeared in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society's Contemporary Composers Seminars with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and William Mathias, and has commissioned several works for clarinet from some of the UK’s leading composers.
Recent highlights include a performance of the Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto in Southampton and a guest appearance with the Ulster Orchestra as Principal Basset Horn in Mozart’s Grand Partitia recorded for broadcast by BBC Radio 3.
Andrew has given recitals at the International Frankfurt Musikmesse and has made frequent appearances at the International Clarinet Association Clarinetfests in the US and Europe.
He broadcasts regularly for BBC Radio 3 and has appeared in solo recitals for both BBC1 Television and Granada Television
Andrew is on the staff of the music departments of The University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University and The University of Manchester and is a frequent guest tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire. Andrew was appointed as the Player Endorser for Leblanc Clarinets in the UK between 1994-2005, during that time he gave more than 80 masterclasses and recitals throughout Great Britain to promote the instruments. He was involved with the acoustic design and production of Leblanc clarinets - experience he has continued to develop in his new company, ARCS (Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service).
Since 1997 Andrew has organised and directed The Clarinet Summer School, which has been highly successful, with clarinettists attending from all over the world. Over the last 14 years many leading European performers including Philippe Cuper and Antony Pay, have offered their experience and help to students on the course.
Andrew was honoured to serve as Chairman for The Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain from 2006-08 and remains a regular contributor to the magazine on a wide range of ideas relating to the clarinet.
Having a passionate interest in the ergonomics and pedagogue of the clarinet has led Andrew to be engaged by BAPAM (British Performing Arts Medicine) as a consultant, working to improve instrument interface and giving advice for players on improving techniques to reduce problems caused by clarinet playing.
Reviews
Of his playing in Tristan und Isolde in Opera North’s acclaimed performances, 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."
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