LINDA MERRICK

Linda Merrick has established an international profile as a soloist, recording artist and clinician. She specialises in contemporary repertoire and has been at the forefront of generating new works for her instrument by British composers in the last fifteen years. During this period she has commissioned and given the premiere of over thirty solo works for clarinet, the majority of which have been released on CD.

Linda's catalogue of nine solo CDs to date includes recordings of new concertos for clarinet and concert band by Nigel Clarke, Martin Ellerby, Kit Turnbull and Guy Woolfenden (Polyphonic) and Philip Sparke (Anglo Records). Her pioneering work with clarinet and electronics has led to two further CDs for this medium, entitled New York Counterpoint and The Hemlock Stone (Classicprint), while her chamber music output includes a first recording of the late Wilfred Josephs' Clarinet Quintet, accompanied by his two clarinet sonatas (Metier). In addition, Linda has recorded two CDs of British and French repertoire with her pianist Benjamin Frith (Classicprint).

Linda has broadcast as a solo artist for BBC Radio 3, Radio France and DRS1 (Switzerland) and performed in America, Australia, the Middle East and across mainland Europe. She is a founder member of the contemporary ensemble Sounds Positive with whom she has commissioned and premiered over seventy works by British composers. The ensemble has released a CD of chamber music by John Lambert (NMC), undertakes collaborative work with dance companies and performs regularly across the UK and abroad.

Linda is Deputy Vice-Principal and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the Royal Northern College of Music, and the UK representative for Howarth Clarinets.

Linda performing the world premiere of John McLeod's Clarinet Concerto
with PSO in Perth Concert Hall on Sunday 27th November 2005