Biography
'Jones plays with a beguiling lyricism and subtle range of hues and colours, she floats aloft on warm musical breezes, relishing their rippling iridescence with alluring subtlety ...with a sensitivity and panache that enchants the senses..' Julian Haylock BBC Music Magazine 'The Mozart flute and harp concerto perfectly crowns a disc splendidly celebrating the artistry of Claire Jones'. Edward Greenfield Gramophone Magazine
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Born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1985, Claire began her musical education at the age of seven. She soon excelled in three instruments Harp, Violin, and Piano and achieved three grade 8 distinctions at the age of 14. Claire studied harp with Buddug Stephens until entering the Royal College of Music at 18 years old where she then studied with Ieuan Jones, graduating with 1st class honors in 2007. In 2009 Claire graduated as an M.A. scholar from the Royal Academy of Music where she studied with Professor Skaila Kanga.
Claire was one of the first recipients of the Prince of Wales Advanced Study Awards in 2007 and 2008. This award recognising her as one of Wales' most outstanding young talents. She is also supported by the Victor Salvi Foundation, the Cork Fund, the Countess of Munster Trust, and the Harriet Cohen Memorial Music Award.
2007 - 2011, Claire was appointed Official Harpist to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales and regularly performed for the Royal Family and distinguished guests at the Royal Palaces. Claire made her concerto debut with the English Chamber Orchestra in the same year.
In 2008, she performed a concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. This was a performance of a special commission written for His Royal Highness' 60th birthday, by Patrick Hawes. The event culminated in a surprise choir of 60 harps organised by Claire. She has also performed solo concertos with such illustrious ensembles as the European Union Chamber Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Music Soloists, National Youth Strings Academy, and the Welsh Sinfonia. A highlight was being invited to perform as guest soloist with the world renowned conductor Maestro Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet. At the opening of the international rugby games, Wales V South Africa, Prince William Cup saw Claire play to a sell out crowd of 75,000 fans and 4 million viewers on BBC.
2009 Highlights included a sold out recital at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, concerto appearances with the English Chamber Orchestra, and a duo recording with Julian Lloyd Webber. 2009 also saw the launch of a brand new exciting duo with talented percussionist and arranger - Chris Marshall. Claire has performed throughout the UK at all major music festivals and concert venues.
In 2010, Claire released 3 albums, including a concerto album with the English Chamber Orchestra, with conductor Paul Watkins, and flute player William Bennett OBE. The album was launched at Cadogan Hall, London, and is released on Signum Classics. It features the stunning Gliere concerto, Debussy Danses and Mozart concerto for flute and harp. The second album release and private premiere was the ‘Highgrove Suite’ at HRH's residence, Highgrove House - a work written in celebration of the work of the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts by Patrick Hawes. It is released on Classic FM label and reached number 3 in the classical charts. Claire also features as soloist on a CD from the National Youth Choir of Scotland - which features the Britten ‘Ceremony of Carols’, and ‘An English Day-book’, by Elizabeth Poston, released by Signum Classics.
Other notable artists Claire has collaborated with include Sir James Galway, Bryn Terfel, Alfie Bow, William Bennett OBE, Julian Lloyd Webber, to name only a few. Claire also performed as a soloist on a Mediterranean cruise with the English Chamber Orchestra, Joshua Bell and Steven Isselis, and has entertained many International audiences and cruise ship passengers through her solo recitals.
She has appeared on many major TV and radio networks in the UK, and America including GMTV, BBC, Classic FM and Radio 3, and also featured in a BBC2 documentary about the ‘Highgrove Suite’ presented by Alan Titchmarsh, as well as being regularly seen on S4C - the Welsh TV network.
Engagements in 2011 included performing by personal invitation at the Royal Wedding at Buckingham Palace for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a performance of the Mozart Flute and Harp with Sir James Galway, concerts in the USA, and City Palace Rio de Janeiro Brazil. Claire performed a concerto performance with Sir Neville Marriner and the National Youth Strings Academy at St John's Smith Square, and a Wigmore Hall debut. In 2012 she will release 2 new albums,one solo, and one with the C2 Duo and percussionist Chris Marshall. She also looks forward to more performances with Sir James Galway in 2012.
Passionate to promote the harp to all, Claire has been a featured artist in Classic FM Magazine, and her new album was featured as John Brunning's CD of the week, and also featured as a favourite on David Mellor's new CD weekend show on Classic FM. She encourages youngsters to play the harp through her workshops in schools, and takes great pride in being an ambassador by encouraging and inspiring the next generation of young harpists.
Miss Jones’s Recital gowns designed & exclusively made by Mr David Emanuel.
www.davidemanuel.com
Claire is supported by the Victor Salvi Foundation. For more information and availability please contact Paul Wing, Winford Management LTD
Claires CDs are available in all major record stores, HMV, Tesco, WHSmith, online via Amazon, play.com, iTunes and through www.clairejones.co.uk.
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