Clarinettist Katherine Spencer made her concerto debut at the age of fourteen at the Royal Festival Hall and has since performed there as concerto soloist many times.

She has also appeared as soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Hannover Band, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in venues such as the Barbican Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall; made many live Radio 3 solo broadcasts; and performs regularly on Classic FM and European radio stations.

Katherine is principal clarinet of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, City of London Sinfonia, Academy of Ancient Music as well as regular guest principal with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Gabrieli Consort and Hannover Band. Her freelance work sees her regularly playing with many of Europe’s leading period performance orchestras and modern symphony orchestras.

As a chamber musician Katherine was chosen by the BBC to be on their Young Generation Artists Scheme, which has facilitated her to continue to perform internationally with her ensembles in festivals such as the BBC Proms and the Barbican’s Mostly Mozart Festival.

She has recorded the Brahms Sonata and Beethoven Trio for the Oxford Classic label with Sam Haywood and Martin Storey. Many of her discs with the Galliard Ensemble, of which she is a long standing member, are highly acclaimed in the world press, Gramophone and BBC Music Magazines.

Katherine is committed to bringing music to all areas of society. She is regularly devising and delivering valuable community projects, from composing and recording an entire film score written in collaboration by a mainstream and special needs school, to linking art and music to homeless people, which were exhibited in London’s main art galleries. She believes in the power of therapeutic music making to make the difference to all peoples lives.

SMF Orchestra

Assembled by clarinettist Katherine Spencer, the Solent Music Festival Orchestra is made of up members of the main UK orchestras. Being Principal Clarinettist of four of them, she is well placed to do so. Katherine invites the players not only because they are wonderful musicians, but also because she knows they will enjoy each other’s company and making music together in Lymington.