Cowal Music Club presents the Scottish Reed Trio

The Scottish Reed Trio was formed at the beginning of 2008 by like-minded musicians and friends with a shared love of chamber music and everything that reed instruments have to offer. Since their debut recital in September 2008 for Westbourne Music the group have established themselves as Scotland’s leading reed trio delivering over 40 performances across Scotland to date. In Spring 2011, the trio completed a major tour of Argyll and Bute during which they premiered their newly commissioned ‘Dalriada’ by Oliver Searle to great acclaim. Other highlights include delivering a series of family concerts – Tom Toms and Tooters – in collaboration with Children’s Classic Concerts. The trio met whilst studying at the RCS (formally RSAMD), where they were recipients of numerous prizes for chamber music, and since graduating have enjoyed successful performance careers working with major orchestras and ensembles in Scotland and the rest of the UK and also as respected music educators. Individually the members have performed across four continents in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican and The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. The Scottish Reed Trio is dedicated to delivering high quality, inspirational concerts and developing new and diverse audiences for live music through exciting presentation, innovative programming and education work. Catherine Earnshaw (oboe), originally from Blackburn, Lancashire, studied at the RCS under Stephen West and Stephane Rancourt. After graduating in 2001, she spent four months training with Diane Doherty and Antony Chesterman in Sydney, Australia before returning to Scotland and beginning work as a freelance oboist working with orchestras in Scotland such as Scottish Opera, the RSNO and Manchester Camerata and the Lancashire Sinfonietta in England. Catherine is also heavily involved with music education in Scotland and was appointed General Manager of Children’s Classic Concerts in 2009. Catherine is also a serious chamber musician, performing in an award-winning ensemble whilst at the RSAMD and performing many times with string players as well as other winds. Frances Barker (clarinet) is originally from Richmond, North Yorkshire and began playing the clarinet at the age of ten. She moved to Scotland in 1996 to study at the RCS and was twice a member of the winning ensemble in the RCS Governor’s recital prize for chamber music. Frances performs throughout Scotland working with various ensembles including the RSNO, Scottish Concert Orchestra, Auricle Ensemble and Symposia. Alongside her busy playing commitments, Fran also works for Perth and Kinross council. Heather Brown (bassoon) grew up in East Kilbride within a musical family. After studying at the junior department of the RCS (formerly RSAMD) she went on to study there full time qualifying with a BA (Hons) and an Mmus. Heather is now an established freelance Bassoon and Contra-bassoonist working in Scotland and England with orchestras such as Scottish Opera, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the RSNO, the Halle, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Ballet Orchestra and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Heather is also an experienced teacher and hold a post in East Dunbartonshire.