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Liquorice & Ivory

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Clarinet and Piano Duo
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Claire Shipway BMUS Hons


Claire comes from Sheffield and her passion for music began when she took up the clarinet at the age of 8. Throughout her school years, Claire remained an active member of many Sheffield Music Service ensembles including The City of Sheffield Festival Band before moving onto The City of Sheffield Youth Orchestra with whom she frequently toured in continental Europe.


With her heart set on a career in music, Claire chose to pursue an honours degree in music and performance at the University of Huddersfield where she studied under Alan Haydock of the Hallé Orchestra. Claire's experience in performing progressed as a member of the university orchestra and leader of the university wind band.  She also excelled as a soloist, gaining a first class mark for her performance of Copland's Clarinet Concerto in her final year.


Having graduated from university, Claire began her teaching career for Sheffield Music Service teaching clarinet, saxophone and flute to school children of all ages. At the same time she still found the time to indulge her love of performance as a multi-instrumentalist in musical theatre. Having met her husband, Martin, Claire moved across the Pennines in 2002 joining Lancashire Music Service. Since then she has continued her musical theatre work, playing in productions across Lancashire. Recent shows include including Mack and Mabel, La Cage Aux Folles, Copacabana, The Full Monty, Titanic the Musical and Calamity Jane.  As a woodwind ‘doubler’ for these shows, Claire also plays saxes (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) bass clarinet and flute. This often requires the use of a small truck! In 2013 she joined the ranks of Blackpool Symphony Orchestra as clarinettist.

Edward Rugman MMUS


Edward is from the Fylde and is a Masters Graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music. He has developed his interests in composition and conducting over many areas of music. Edward is an organist and pianist and has a wide experience of conducting and performing all over the North West of England. He is also an experienced broadcaster with the BBC and ITV and has worked with the Northern Chamber Orchestra and Manchester Camerata. In 2012, Edward conducted a special “last night of the proms” concert in Preston as part of The Guild celebrations.


Edward’s other activities are to be seen in his frequent appearances in the most surprising venues; from working as a freelance musician and musical director in Manchester, working as copyist and musical orchestrator, playing organ at university degree ceremonies, directing choirs, teaching in various schools and colleges across the Fylde to working as a jazz pianist and session musician in local venues. More recently he is often found working into the small hours in his recording studio writing, arranging and producing music for documentaries, films and cartoons.


Edward is Director of Music at St. Michael’s Parish Church, Kirkham and enjoys working on a wide variety of projects. Some of these have recently included writing music for three student BBC wildlife documentaries, an iPad app, string arrangements for a commercial band release (due in 2014) and musical collaboration with artists in ‘open space’ exhibition  projects.  In 2013 he became Composer in Residence to Blackpool Symphony Orchestra.