About Linda Merrick...
For easier navigation this section has been split into three parts, click on the subheadings to open the relevant pages.
Profile: A general overview of of my interests and professional performance work to date and the professional bodies of which I am a member.
Employment: Positions held; past and present.
Performance: Performance history including recordings, broadcasts, commissioned works and freelance work.
Click here to download my programme note (in Microsoft Word format)
Performance...
Linda Merrick
has been a freelance solo clarinettist since 1981. Her experience
includes performances across the UK with pianists Benjamin Frith
and Philip Mead, being a founder member of the contemporary ensemble Sounds Positive, working in an electroacoustic
duo with Philip Mead, electroacoustic performances with music technologist
Chris Thorpe, the recording of a number of CD's, broadcasts for
Radio 3, Radio France and Radio DRS1 (Switzerland), the commissioning
of new works and a host of concerto performances in the UK, America,
Germany, the Middle East, Switzerland and France.
Recordings
Edwin Roxburgh 'Saturn'
Linda Merrick - clarinet
RNCM Symphony Orchestra
NMC D119
2006 NMC Recordings Ltd
Philip Sparke Concerto
(new commission, CD release Dec. 2003)
Wilfred Josephs Clarinet
Quintet & Clarinet Sonatas
Linda Merrick - clarinet
Kreutzer Quartet, Benjamin Frith, piano
Metier 2002
Concerti for Clarinet
&
Concert Band
Linda Merrick
- clarinet
RNCM Wind Orchestra, conducted by
James Gourlay & Guy Woolfenden
Polyphonic 2000
The Hemlock Stone
Linda Merrick - clarinets
Chris Thorpe – computers
ClassicPrint 1999
New York Counterpoint
Linda Merrick - clarinets
Chris Thorpe - electronics
Serendipity/Classicprint 1996/98
The Music of
John Lambert
Sounds Positive
NMC 1993
Collage
Linda Merrick - clarinet, Benjamin
Frith - piano
Serendipity/Classicprint 1992/99
Martin Ellerby
Chamber Music
Linda Merrick - clarinet, Benjamin
Frith - piano
Serendipity 1990
Full details of Linda Merrick's CD's can
be found in the Discography section
Forthcoming CD releases
Works for two clarinets
Linda Merrick and Stefan Harg 2004
Horacio Vaggione - Phases
Linda Merrick – clt, Philip Mead- pno INA – Paris, France 2004
John McLeod
New Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra 2006
Radio Broadcasts
BBC Radio 3
Finzi - Five Bagatelles
McCabe - Three Pieces
Linda Merrick - clarinet
Andrew Wilkinson - piano
1986/1989
Josephs - Sonata no.2
Stanford - Sonata
Stanford - Three Intermezzi
Linda Merrick - clarinet
Benjamin Frith - piano
1992/1994
Overseas
Vaggione – Phases
Linda Merrick-clarinet, Philip Mead-piano
Horacio Vaggione-sound diffusion
Radio France 2001
Ellerby –
Clarinet Concerto
Linda Merrick-clarinet
Birmingham Conservatoire Wind Orchestra
Conducted – Guy Woolfenden
Radio DRS1-Switzerland
2001
Featured Artist
Linda Merrick-clarinet
Ireland
2002
Commissioned Solo Works (including details of premiere)
Avril Anderson
Hammer & Tongue
- WCMD 1999
Deadwood - Reading University 1995
Rest Assured - ClarinetFest 99, Belgium 1999
Nigel Clarke
The Hemlock Stone
- Birmingham Conservatoire 1998
The Devil and The Hemlock Stone - ClarinetFest 99, Ostend, Belgium
1999
Battles and Chants (Concerto), RAM 2000
CBSO Centre 2000
Martin Ellerby
Clarinet Sonata
- Manchester Midday Concerts 1984
Souviens-Toi - Purcell Room, London 1986
Vocalise - Warwick Arts Festival 1991
Clarinet Concerto - Gateway Arts Centre 2000
Joseph Horovitz
Diversions - Wigmore
Hall 1998
(UK premiere of clarinet and piano version)
Rhian Samuel
Stepping Out -
Derby Guildhall 1997
(commissioned by Linda Merrick: 2nd UK performance)
Richard Stoker
Partita - Purcell Room, London 1985
David Sutton-Anderson
Chant with Drone - Birmingham Conservatoire 1998
Kit Turnbull
African Dances (concerto) - CBSO Centre, Birmingham 1999
Horacio Vaggione
Phases - Salle
Olivier Messiaen, Paris 2001
Queens University, Belfast 2001
Commissioned Electroacoustic Works
Linda has also commissioned new repertoire for solo clarinet and/or clarinet and electronics from the following composers:
Avril Anderson, Nigel Clarke, Martin Ellerby, Howard Goodall, Michael Oliva, Paul Patterson, Edwin Roxburgh, David Sutton-Anderson, Chris Thorpe, Kit Turnbull, Horacio Vaggione
Work with Sounds Positive (1987-)
Performance Work includes:
- Annual concert series’ at the Purcell Room, St. John’s
Smith Square, The Warehouse
- Festival appearances across the UK and abroad
- Regular collaborative work with London Contemporary Dance Theatre
- Commission of over 75 new works by British composers
- CD - Chamber Music of John Lambert, NMC (see catalogue of recordings
above)
- Purcell Perspectives - Concert series of new commissions inspired
by Purcell, 1995/96
- Series 10 - Concert series to celebrate 10th anniversary of the
ensemble at St.John’s Smith Square, November 1997- March 1998
Educational Work includes:
- HE level - workshops at Conservatoires and Universities across
the UK
- Featured ensemble for PRS Composers in Education 1997 and Nettlefold
Festival Projects 1995-97
- Collaborative work and residency with The Young Place Dance Company
1994 -
- SPNM workshops 1998/99 and 1999/00
Adjudication
Includes the following:
- Yamaha Foundation of Europe Scholarships (woodwind final)
- Performing Australian Music
- Howarth Clarinet Prize
- Cassel Prize Final (RMSM)
- Hertfordshire Young Musician of the Year
- Various festivals as part of the BFMS






