Clare College Music

For the past thirty years, music has had a high profile in the life of the College. A thriving Music Society puts on regular orchestral, choral and chamber concerts, and the Monday Lunchtime concerts are part of the established Cambridge concert calendar during term time. Apart from the music students, many of whom are talented instrumentalists, there are a large number of musicians in College every year, including a strong line-up of Instrumental Award Holders.

Many Clare musicians have gone on to distinguished professional careers in academic or practical music. Sir Roger Norrington (Honorary Fellow) was a Choral Exhibitioner at Clare. The conductors Ivor Bolton, Richard Egarr and Dominic Wheeler are former Organ Scholars, and two others, David Dunnett and Stephen Farr, are now Cathedral organists at Norwich and Guildford respectively. Distinguished academics include Stephen Banfield, Professor of Music, Birmingham University.

Performing musicians include the distinguished Andrew Mance (also conductor), and baroque violinists, Margaret Faultless, Marcus Barcham-Stevens (co-Leader, Birmingham Symphony Orchestra), and Daniel Pailthorpe (co-principal flautist, BBC Symphony Orchestra). Simon Blendis and Jane Salmon are members of the Schubert Ensemble. Clare vocal soloists include Ruth Holton, soprano. Musicans working in the areas of jazz and musical entertainment include Richard Stilgoe, Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Harvey Brough.

The composer John Rutter is a former student, later Director of Music. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow in 2001.

For a closer look at the current musical activities in the College, follow this link.

• Back to rooms