Woodley Concert Band
Henley-on-Thames Service of Remembrance, November 2021

Our Musical Director

Claire Lawrence (MMus(dist) FRSM ARCM(PG) Dip TCL LLCM) was born and educated in Northampton, and learned violin and flute within the Northamptonshire County Music Service. She completed undergraduate studies at Trinity College of Music, London, and post-graduate studies at the Royal College of Music, graduating in 1995.

She spent the next 9 years as a freelance professional violinist and played with many orchestras, opera companies and touring shows, including a 4 month trial with Welsh National Opera, extra work with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the UK tours of “Les Miserables”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Phantom of the Opera”.

In 2004 Claire joined the Central Band of the Royal Air Force as a flautist and piccolo player primarily; however she featured extensively as a violin soloist with the band in all the major concert halls of the UK, on recordings, and also on concerts abroad. During her time in the RAF she studied conducting culminating in the LRSM diploma.

Keen to progress as a conductor, Claire transferred to the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) in Sept 2014, having been selected to attend the the Musical Direction course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. On completion of the course she was awarded the Best Band Direction Prize and the Academic Prize. She also passed the FRSM diploma in conducting. She was posted to the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra as Bandmaster in Sept 2015 and in 2016 she completed a Masters Degree with Distinction.

In May 2018 Claire was appointed Bandmaster of the Band of the Coldstream Guards and in August 2018 took up the position of Musical Director of Woodley Concert Band.

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