Alongside a solo career that has included performances of many of the most taxing clarinet concertos throughout Europe, Andrew Roberts has developed his work as a specialist in clarinet design and customisation, working with many top professional players throughout the UK.

For 35 years Andrew has been in demand & performing regularly with many of the major orchestra in the UK, playing everything from Soloist to Contra-Bass and the E flat clarinet.

Andrew was appointed as the Player Endorser for Leblanc Clarinets in the UK between 1994-2005. He was involved with the acoustic design and production of Leblanc clarinets –and continues to work with the woodwind experts Lohff & Pfeiffer (who are based in Denmark and the US) and the outstanding Flute make Willy Simmons-experience he has continued to develop in his new company, ARCS (Andrew Roberts Clarinet Service).

Since 1997 Andrew has organised and given a series of highly successful specialist summer schools for clarinettists. Over the last 14 years many leading European performers including Philippe Cuper and Antony Pay, have offered their experience and help to students on the course. These courses have attracted students from as far afield as USA,, Switzerland, Italy, Norway and Malta.

As a solo recitalist, he has appeared in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society’s Contemporary Composers Seminars with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and William Mathias, and has commissioned several new works for clarinet from some of the UK’s leading composers.

Andrew has broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and appeared in a solo recital for both BBC1 Television and Granada Television. He has given recitals at the International Frankfurt Musikmesse and has made frequent appearances at the International Clarinet Association Clarinetfests, most recently presenting a lecture on avoiding playing related injuries in Italy at last year’s Clarinetfest in Assisi. He has subsequently given the same lecture at many of the UK’s main Conservatoires.

This year’s highlights will include several performances of the Finzi Clarinet Concerto with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra.

Andrew is the Clarinet tutor for the music departments of The University of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University and The University of Manchester and is a frequent guest tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire. He is also a guest lecturer for the MSC course in Performing arts Medicine at UCL.

Andrew was honoured to serve as Chairman for The Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain from 2006-08 and is still writing regularly for the magazine on a wide range of ideas relating to the clarinet.

Having a passionate interest in the ergonomics and pedagogue of the clarinet has led Andrew to be engaged by BAPAM (British Performing Arts Medicine) as a consultant, working to improve instrument interface and giving advice for players on improving techniques to reduce problems caused by clarinet playing.

Reviews

Of his playing in Tristan und Isolde in Opera North’s acclaimed performances, the Financial Times review read “A deep Salaam to the bass clarinet, which carries a rare weight in this score: Andrew Roberts’ instrument was darkly, immaculately expressive.”

Following his successful recital at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, the Manchester Evening News said “Nobody is better equipped than Andrew Roberts to work wonders with the instrument. He held centre stage throughout – emphatic, highly expressive and with a technique and command which were a joy to behold.” (Read the full review)

The Arts Desk review of Opera North’s production of Die Walkure 2012

“The woodwind playing never sours; bass clarinet (Andrew Roberts) proving exceptionally impressive”