Clare Howick - violin
Described by The Strad as “playing with beguiling warmth and affection” and by American Record Guide as “simply spectacular”, Clare Howick is at the forefront of a generation of inspiring violinists.
Clare’s debut CD, Cyril Scott – Sonata Lirica and Other Violin Works (on the Dutton Epoch label) won great acclaim and was awarded ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone magazine. Her most recent recordings (for Naxos) of violin works by British Women Composers and Cyril Scott – Violin Sonatas 1-3, have also received much praise, including ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Classical Music magazine and ‘Recording of the Month’ on Music Web International.
Clare has performed most of the violin concerto repertoire (encompassing 48 concerti and works) with several orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, and has performed at major festivals in the UK, such as the Covent Garden, Buxton and Cheltenham International Festival. She has broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, as well as worldwide, including in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Sweden, and has collaborated with many artists, including Lynn Harrell, Marin Alsop, Kazushi Ono, Jaap van Zweden, Radoslav Szulc, Alexander Shelley, Sam Haywood, Leon Bosch, Philip Dukes and Sophia Rahman.
As a champion of new music, Clare has premiered many new works, both on disc and in performance. She recently gave the world premiere performance at St John’s Smith Square of Serenade for violin and orchestra by Paul Patterson, which was specially written for her. Clare will shortly be recording this work for CD.
Clare combines solo and chamber performances, at venues such as the Royal Festival Hall and Wigmore Hall, with appearing as a Guest Leader of many orchestras, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of English National Opera.
Clare was a student of Maurice Hasson at the Royal Academy of Music and also studied with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Zahkar Bron, Ida Haendel and Dorothy DeLay. Clare won First Prize at the Jellinek Competition as well as many other prizes and has received awards from The Worshipful Company of Musicians, The Tillett Trust and the Countess of Munster Trust, which also sponsored many concerto and recital performances around the UK.
