Biography

Clive Williamson studied at York University and at the Royal Academy of Music with Ruth Harte. He made his London solo debut in the Purcell Room, in the Young Artists and Twentieth Century Music series run by the Park Lane Group. Since then he has played as soloist at all of the major London halls, and many other venues throughout the UK and in Europe.  As an ensemble musician he is in considerable demand, working in both concert hall and recording studio throughout the world with many leading groups such as the London Sinfonietta, Gemini, Composers Ensemble and BCMG.

Recent highlights include the launch of the One-Minute Wonders: this is a series of commissions from major figures working in the UK and from student composers for one minute solo piano pieces. All of them have been performed throughout the UK. The pieces have been published in two volumes, and Clive Williamson’s performance has been released on CD by Cadenza Music. Following several performances throughout Europe as soloist in Petrushka with the CBSO under Sakari Oramo, Clive was invited to perform the solo piano part in Ives’s 4th Symphony with the CBSO at the Proms live on BBC television. He was also invited by Jonathan Harvey to perform Messiaen's Sept Haikai in Antwerp with Sinfonia21, conducted by David Porcelijn. Clive's passion for and expertise in electronic music led to him being invited to perform at the re-launch of the Roundhouse in London, for the BBC's Electric Proms. He was on the jury of the 2006 British Contemporary Piano Competition and was invited to serve again in 2010. A CD of the Sonata Trilogy by Tom Ingoldsby – composed for Clive Williamson - is due for release in 2011, and there are plans for further solo commissions, CDs and publications. Clive is Director of Performance at the University of Surrey.

Press comments:

Research Interests

• Performance of solo piano and chamber music repertoire, particularly from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
  • Concerts
  • Recitals
  • Recording
  • Broadcasting (radio and television)
• Incorporation of electronics into live performance
  • Pre-recorded material (tape, CD etc)
  • Live treatment
• Performance using MIDI keyboards and technology

Publications

Performance

• Concerts
• Recitals
• Recording
• Broadcasting

One-Minute Wonders. Publication by Cadenza Music in two volumes with accompanying CD of pieces from the complete One-Minute Wonders project collection.

CDs

Due for release in 2011

• Sonata trilogy and The cathedral by Tom Ingoldsby. Première recordings to be released on the Cadenza label.
• Ashes dance back and The summer sun's awakening by Jonathan Harvey. With the Latvian Radio Chamber Choir conducted by James Wood. Première recordings to be released on the Hyperion label.
• Rothko chapel by Morton Feldman. With the New London Chamber Choir conducted by James Wood. On the Mode label

Teaching

• Solo piano teaching
• Chamber music coaching
• Performance coaching
• Performance seminars
• Tutorials
• Masterclasses and workshops

Departmental Duties

• Curriculum planning and module design for all undergraduate and postgraduate performance modules
• Performance planning
• Scholarships and competitions
• Concert supervision
• Ensemble supervision
• Instrumental collection
• Sheet music collection
• Appointment of instrumental/vocal tutors