Sarah Williamson
Clarinet

Sarah Williamson came to the attention of the British musical public with her performances in the finals of the BBC Young Musicians competition in May 2002. She won the woodwind prize and then, in the concerto final at the Barbican Centre, gave a highly individual and memorable performance of the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. She immediately went on to win 2nd Prize in the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians held in the Berlin Konzerthaus with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marek Janowsky.

Sarah went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire studying with Pascal Moraguès and graduating with the Premier Prix, and was awarded a Laureate, the highest honour. Prior to this, she studied at the Purcell School and the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music, winning the concerto competitions at both schools.

Since 2002 Sarah has given a series of recitals and concerto performances throughout Europe, including a critically acclaimed debut at the Purcell Room and recitals at the Cheltenham, Chester, Windsor, North Aldborough and Harrogate Festivals. She has also undertaken a tour of the Channel Islands, made her debut at the Tonhalle in Zurich and given concerts in the United Arab Emirates and the USA.

Sarah has worked with a number of contemporary composers, including Edward Longstaff who has written both a concert piece (broadcast by Radio 3) and a Clarinet Concerto for her. Earlier this year she worked with Phillip Grange on his Clarinet Concerto Sheng Sheng Bu Shi with the National Youth Wind Ensemble, which she will be recording for the Campion label. Sarah was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for five years and principal clarinettist for two years.