Jane Booth (early clarinets) BMus LRAM MA FHEA
Following a B.Mus at the University of Sheffield, Jane completed her postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School on early clarinet, winning the John Pettican Early Music Prize, the National Early Music Network Competition (jointly with I Fagiolini), a National Federation of Music Societies Chamber Music award, and a Laura Ashley Award.
Jane is a specialist in early clarinets and chalumeaux. In addition to her work at the Guildhall School, regular masterclasses and international adjudicating, she has pursued a busy international career, playing all over the world with many renowned ensembles including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Tafelmusik and The Academy of Ancient Music. Her repertoire is vast and extends from the works of Handel, Telemann and Vivaldi through to Wagner, Mahler and Debussy, all on historically appropriate instruments.
Jane is also a qualified executive coach, specialising in career development, progression and transition issues. Her leadership of the Historical Performance Department is informed by a coaching approach which facilitates autonomy and resilience - essential qualities for the 21st-century musician.
After some fifteen thrilling years as principal clarinet of the Orchestre des Champs-Elysees Jane turned her focus towards chamber music. She has performed in the UK, North America, Japan, Australia and Europe with Robert Levin, Ronald Brautigam, Eybler Quartet and Les Jacobins and currently performs regularly with her Ensemble DeNOTE and Ensemble F2. Concerto performances include baroque concertos by Fasch, Telemenn, Graupner, and Molter, as well as Mozart’s Concerto for basset clarinet and Weber’s concertos.
Jane has recorded for Analekta (Canada), ATMA (Canada) and sfz music (UK) performing Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, solo repertoire for the Basset Horn, wind music by Gossec and Méhul, and a programme of Schubert Lieder in clarinet arrangements by 19th-century virtuoso, Carl Baermann. A DVD documentary on Mozart’s Kegelstatt Trio was released in December 2012 with Ensemble DeNOTE (Optic Nerve), and her Beethoven and the Art of Arrangement (with Ensemble DeNOTE) gained a 5* review in Early Music Review. Her most recent recordings feature chamber works by Mozart, Beethoven, Vanhal and Danzi, including his Clarinet Sonata and Basset Horn Sonata. Her most recent recording is a chamber music disc of works by Mozart (on the Devine Music label). 2017-18 sees a particular focus on Mozart, Crusell and Beethoven, including a chamber music series at St John's, Smith Square.