CLAIRE OVERBURY  (flute, piccolo) » 

     Orchestral bookings (since May 2009)

ORCHESTRAS
• Amadeus Orchestra
• JB Management
• Southbank Sinfonia
• Southern Sinfonia

     Reviews

Music lovers, take note of the names of the two outstandingly talented young professional musicians - Elspeth Wyllie (piano) and Claire Overbury (flute), who gave a concert in St Mary's Parish Church, Haddington in aid of the restoration fund for Yester Church. In her introduction, Elspeth explained that, as a twelve year old, she had been given much encouragement in her music by the church in Gifford and this concert with Claire was their gift to the fund. And what a gift!

The programme was interestingly varied - Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th and 21st century pieces, with something for all tastes plus a few surprises. Two Jeux by 1920s Jacques Ibert started the evening and immediately demonstrated a wonderful rapport between the two players, whetting our listening appetite for a stylishly-played Telemann sonata. A sombre Schumann Romance palpably changed the mood but we were cheered by two "lollipops" well-known to James Galway fans. The highlight of the first half of this concert, however, was a sonata by the 20th century Georgian composer, Otar Taktakishvilli (whom - I'll bet - few have heard of and few can pronounce at first sight!). This is fiendishly difficult music for both players and surprised us all with its rhythmic and harmonic contrasts and the virtuosity of execution. The tempo of the two outer movements could have been more relaxed however, as, in the resonant St Mary's acoustic, we lost the clarity of the flute's middle register and the balance between the instruments suffered. But the central slow Aria was quite wonderfully played - a real goosebumps experience!

After a convivial interval, a Cossack Fantasy by the Ukrainian virtuoso flautist, Doppler, and the "Hamburger" Sonata by CPE Bach showed Claire's amazing dexterity, an inexhaustible breath control and, as in the first half, faultless intonation. Elspeth led us into the 21st century with a solo suite of 6 characterful miniatures by her friend Nicholas Sackman - quirky, jazzy, playful, - communicated with great style. To finish, two pieces by Ian Clarke, a London composer who writes for "flute as you have never heard it before". The first - Great Train Race was a tour de force using many new techniques to demonstrate astonishingly different effects to be extorted from the solo flute and its player, even singing while playing! The second Orange Dawn was the highlight of the whole evening. Elspeth joined Claire for a musical portrait of an African dawn with flamingoes silhouetted against a rising sun. Led by the consummate artistry of this duo, we were transported there.

I have no hesitation in writing in effusive terms - the evening's music was quite exquisite - a gift indeed.

     Outreach experience

Claire undertakes regular education work with the City of London Sinfonia and works as a freelance musician with the English National Ballet's Westminster Schools programme. She also works in the Day Centre for both of these Orchestras.

Claire also assists the City of London Sinfonia in their hospital outreach programmes, and has worked on the Royal Opera House Chance to Dance project.

Further to the first flute day that Claire arranged, she held two last year - The Oxford Flute Day at Abingdon Boys School on 9th November and the London Flute Day on 16th November 2008. This year there will be the next London Flute Day on June 28th at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls. For more information email londonfluteday@live.co.uk.

     Teaching experience

• Claire teaches at Haberdashers Aske's School for girls in Elstree, King Alfred's School in Golder's Green and Mill Hill School.

• Claire runs the Oxford and London Flute Days which are held annually in November. For more information, please visit www.cityflutedays.co.uk