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internationally renowned Australian percussionist
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dedicated to the promotion and
performance of contemporary percussion music
ABOUT
Welcome
to the official website of Claire Edwardes.
Australian percussionist Claire Edwardes is a passionate advocate of
contemporary music, working
closely with composers from all over the world.
For the past three years she has been based once more in her
hometown of Sydney after seven years resident in the Netherlands. She
is known for her strong, personal musical interpretation and engaging
presentations. Press have described her performances as riveting and
enthusiastic, combining energy with great sensitivity. Career highlights include
solo performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival,
recording Harrison Birtwistle's The Axe Manual
with the composer, prize-winner as Duo Vertigo at the 2005
International Gaudeamus
Interpreters Competition and being named
Symphony Australia's Young
Performer of the Year (1999). Claire is the passionate
co-artistic director and percussionist of new music group,
Ensemble Offspring. She is the
2005 MCA/Freedman Fellow, recipient of the 2007 AMC/APRA
award for outstanding contribution to Australian music and is
featured in the 2009 Who's Who of Australian
Women.
photo Bridget Elliot
Not to be missed...
*If you enjoyed the final piece by Kevin Puts
in our 21st June Sunday Live program on ABC Classic FM, you should come along to
another free event featuring his stunning music!
30 August 2:30pm Marimba Concerto by Kevin Puts with TOPS Orchestra,
Macquarie University FREE
*You will have 2 opportunities to see Claire in concert with the Sydney Youth
Orchestra at the Verbrugghen Hall in July - she will be performing the world
premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin's new percussion concerto written especially for
her, called Golden Kitsch. It promises to be a very special event - not to be
missed
11 July 7pm & 12 July 3pm Sydney Conservatorium of Music
ww.syo.com.au
*check out the new Ensemble Offspring youtube
videos from our recent June concerts- just type ENSEMBLE OFFSPRING into your
youtube search engine and enjoy!
Fact or Fiction
Fiction 1: I am really fit because I play percussion Fact 2:
Percussion does involve quite a lot of physical movement but I have never really
felt like this alone is enough to make me fit. Right now I feel fit from running
after my 1 year old baby girl constantly. Although it often looks
like I have to do a great deal of running around on stage (in a concerto
especially) it is actually not usually overly taxing. When I have time I like to
swim laps and do pilates and yoga.
Fiction 2: Elena Kats-Chernin's Percussion Concerto Golden Kitsch only uses
exclusively golden instruments Fact 2: Elena and I did choose many
golden instruments (including a gold bar vibraphone, almglocken which are tuned
swiss cowbells), cymbals and crotales (tuned brass discs) however I will also be
bowing and hitting my waterphone (which is silver in hue) and temple bowls which
are varied colours. The concerto will be a virtuosic feast of metallic
percussion sure to dazzle and entertain.
Fiction 3: A marimba is easy to move Fact 3: No No No - A
marimba usually breaks down into about many pieces and goes into about 9 big
heavy bags (which do fit in the back of my Toyota Corolla Wagon). I am actually
about to receive my new Marimba One marimba any day now which I fear may be even
bigger and heavier than my old Adams but of course I am really looking forward
to the lush sound world that it will offer.
Fiction 4: The reason I play percussion is because it is primal Fact
4: This is one of the many reasons but definitely not the only reason. Other
reasons include - the fact that percussion is a contemporary instrument and I am
passionate about the development of repertoire; the range of options in terms of
the different instruments I get to practise and perform on; the huge palette of
sounds possible; it is fun; you can make melodies and have a strong rhythmic
presence all at once etc etc etc
Fiction 5: Percussion is male dominated Fact 6: I have never
really found this to be the case and if it was the case, it has never been an
issue for me.
Fiction 6: I had never had a percussion lesson before I got into the Con
Fact 7: I didn't have regular lessons throughout high school but in year
12 I had quite a few lessons with master
percussionist Jess Ciampa, prior to my HSC and con audition. I met Jess at one
of the many amazing State Band Camps that I had attended during high school. I
did get into the con thanks to Jess!
Fact 7: Gitimalya on the 6th and 7th February 2009 was my
first solo concerto performance at the Sydney Opera House. I have performed
countless times at the SOH since I was a young girl (starting with my first ever
piano concert when I was about 7, in what is now the Utzon Room) so the SOH
holds a special place in my heart. I have performed before as soloist with the
Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Town Hall.
Other facts...
*I don't get nervous in performance anymore * I have my AMUS & LTCL on
piano *I don't play piano very often but I performed Fratres
with Sarah Oates in April 2009 * I used to learn the flute * I
went to school with Kevin Man who is now a member of
Taikoz - we were even in a
flute quartet together *I miss the music scene in Amsterdam but I really love
living back in Sydney and my new projects here *I adore the weather and
landscape in Australia and being close to my family *My
husband Sam is obsessed with watching and playing cricket. He is very good at it
and is in a team called the Saggy Greens
Ensemble Offspring photo Bridget Elliot
COLLABORATIONS
A major part of Claire's musical life involves playing with other inspiring and
like minded musicians. She is constantly seeking out new collaborative
possibilities. A long term collaboration is her percussion duo with Niels Meliefste, Duo Vertigo and
a brand new and exciting collaboration is with the acclaimed Sydney pianist,
Bernadette Balkus. She is also very passionate
about her co-artistic directorship of Sydney based contemporary music group,
Ensemble Offspring.
These initiatives are an extension
of her commitment to and deep interest in quality new contemporary music. Personal and musical challenge, inspiration and passion are
often the result of these unique collaborations.
Bernadette Balkus and Claire Edwardes
photo Bridget Elliot
Duo Vertigo photo Prospero
WHAT THE PRESS SAY
at home
“.
.amazingly voluptuous
percussion performance on multiple instruments created an astonishing effect.."
Adelaide
Festival
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City Messenger
“…electric from start to finish.”
The Age, Melbourne
“Performs with
spellbinding intensity.”
The
Sydney Morning
Herald
“… the young and already
renowned soloist Claire Edwardes … responded with faultless self-possession and
technical brilliance.”
The
Sydney Morning
Herald
world wide
“Claire Edwardes was a fine soloist who played with
sensitivity and unusually focused concentration.”
The Washington Post
“Pianist Nicolas Hodges and percussionist Claire Edwardes'
performance of The Axe Manual had an improvisational freedom and a
funky rhythmic power…the result was an infectious immediacy that carried
through the whole piece.”
The Guardian,
London
"(She) is a rising star in the percussion world. She
plays everything cold blooded and exact but is
never clinical or routine in her approach. Add to this her positive
presentation and it is clear that she is the sort of musician who composers
would be inspired by."
NRC Handelsbad, Amsterdam
CD's
Her CDs include
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Claire Edwardes "COIL"
Australian works for solo percussion
Harrison Birtwistle "The Axe Manual" with pianist Nicolas Hodges
Duo Vertigo "Vertigo One"
TO COMPOSERS
I
am constantly
seeking out new works for solo percussion and percussion in a chamber music
context. If you have a work which you would like to send me or are interested in
a potential collaboration, don't hesitate to get in touch with me via email.
Contact Information
You can contact Claire
directly via email claire@claireedwardes.com
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Claire Edwardes
Percussion 
