Biography

CD Reviews:

“Marvellous and dramatic flute recordings by increasingly recognised star performer Ian. Brilliant, brave, moving.”

– Musician

“This is an amazing recording. Clarke’s playing is incredible in every way.”

– Flute Talk

“This is an inspiring and refreshing collection of music for flute, performed brilliantly!”

– Flute Focus

“This disc is one of the most innovative released in recent years, and not just in a flute context.”

– PAN

“Brilliant performances; don’t miss this one.”

– South Australian Flute News

“Deep Blue, is another remarkable recording from a remarkable musician. Clarke has created a sound world entirely his own …”

– Flutist Quarterly

Ian Clarke is acknowledged as one of the leading player/composers in the flute world. His compositions are performed across the globe and these wide-ranging published works have established themselves as some of the most exciting flute repertoire of today and are being embraced by internationally acclaimed performers, syllabuses, teachers, colleges & students alike.
Ian has performed as a featured guest soloist and teacher at major conventions throughout the world including events in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Japan, many European countries including France (2022) and Germany (2023), and numerous times for the NFA (National Flute Association) in the USA and for the British Flute Society (BFS) in the UK where he lives. He premiered his new concerto for flute & strings at the 2017 Minneapolis, NFA convention, and in 2024 premiered new flute and concert band arrangements of several Clarke works in San Antonio. 2023 saw the publication of ‘A Winged Brocade’ and 2024 ‘Soft Rain and White Staircase. His acclaimed CD ‘Within’ has been one the flute world’s best sellers and his album Deep Blue reached the top 10 in the UK Classical Artist Chart; thought to be a first for an album of original flute music. He has given master-classes at many of the leading music conservatoires including London’s Royal Academy of Music (RAM) & Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD) through to New York’s Juilliard & MSM (Manhattan School of Music) and in countries around the globe.  In his career he has performed in genres ranging from classical opera to a guest appearance with rock group Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson. He had a long relationship with Flutewise (UK) including as their artist of the year and Ian has been a guest artist at many of the top flute courses. Along with RAM’s Clare Southworth, he co-led the Woldingham International Summer School for many years and was a regular artist at the Complete 21^st Century Flutist at California Summer Arts. Ian is also a founder member of the annual Grolloo Flute Session team in the Netherlands and continues as a long-standing artist on the Scottish International Flute Summer School.  Through leading, co-leading and contributing to a myriad of flute events, Ian has enjoyed working with all ages and stages in flute-land and beyond.
A prize-winning student, Ian studied part-time with Simon Hunt, Averil Williams and Kate Lukas of the Guildhall School of Music, London. He concurrently studied Mathematics at Imperial College, London graduating with Honours. Ian is professor of flute at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Ian has worked extensively with musician/composer Simon Painter writing, producing and performing music for film & television.
Ian is an International Miyazawa Flute artist.

Further Information:

Date of birth – 4th February 1964
Place of birth – Broadstairs, Kent, UK
His compositions have been performed across six continents on stages ranging from London’s South Bank to the Glastonbury Rock Festival and have featured in countless recitals including four consecutive BBC Young Musician Woodwind finals*.  For some further details on syllabus inclusion see ‘Publications’ page.

*In the winning programme in both 2008 & 2010; Zoom Tube and Spiral Lament respectively.