Biography
Clare Howick, a British violinist, has concentrated on contemporary British works, especially those written by women. She trained with Maurice Hasson at the Royal Academy of Music and gained further experience alongside Anne-Sophie Mutter, Zahkar Bron, Ida Haendel, and Dorothy DeLay. First prize in the Jellinek Competition came her way, along with additional prizes and awards across the U.K., supported by the Countess of Munster Trust and other patrons.
A broad selection of standard concertos has formed part of her activity, performed with groups such as the Philharmonia Orchestra. She has taken part in leading U.K. festivals, among them Covent Garden, Buxton, and the Cheltenham International Festivals. Appearances on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM have brought her playing to wider audiences, while artistic partnerships have included Lynn Harrell, Marin Alsop, and Jaap van Zweden. Guest Leader engagements have occurred with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of English National Opera. Numerous new pieces, such as Paul Patterson’s Serenade for violin and orchestra, were commissioned by Howick and composed expressly for her.
Her first recording, Sonata Lirica and Other Works for Violin and Piano (2007), revived interest in the overlooked Cyril Scott, and she has sustained that focus on lesser-known British music. A return to Scott followed in 2008 with three of his violin sonatas, after which British Women Composers (2010) presented music by Ethel Smyth, Elizabeth Maconchy, Irena Regina Poldowski (daughter of Henryk Wieniawski), Phyllis Tate, and Ethel Barns. British Music for Violin and Piano appeared in 2017, again featuring Scott along with other composers, and a concerto album on Naxos was planned for release late that year. Sophia Rahman served as pianist on the first three releases, while John Paul Ekins performed on British Music for Violin and Piano.
A broad selection of standard concertos has formed part of her activity, performed with groups such as the Philharmonia Orchestra. She has taken part in leading U.K. festivals, among them Covent Garden, Buxton, and the Cheltenham International Festivals. Appearances on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM have brought her playing to wider audiences, while artistic partnerships have included Lynn Harrell, Marin Alsop, and Jaap van Zweden. Guest Leader engagements have occurred with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of English National Opera. Numerous new pieces, such as Paul Patterson’s Serenade for violin and orchestra, were commissioned by Howick and composed expressly for her.
Her first recording, Sonata Lirica and Other Works for Violin and Piano (2007), revived interest in the overlooked Cyril Scott, and she has sustained that focus on lesser-known British music. A return to Scott followed in 2008 with three of his violin sonatas, after which British Women Composers (2010) presented music by Ethel Smyth, Elizabeth Maconchy, Irena Regina Poldowski (daughter of Henryk Wieniawski), Phyllis Tate, and Ethel Barns. British Music for Violin and Piano appeared in 2017, again featuring Scott along with other composers, and a concerto album on Naxos was planned for release late that year. Sophia Rahman served as pianist on the first three releases, while John Paul Ekins performed on British Music for Violin and Piano.
Albums
