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Welcome to my website!

Here you can find out more about my work as a specialist in historically informed performance practice on early flutes.

My musical interests range from renaissance to early 20th century repertoire in solo, consort, ensemble and orchestral settings, performed on close copies and original instruments.

You can find latest news below and information about forthcoming concerts here.

Thanks for visiting!

News

My recent article "Becoming a Virtuosa: Advice from Vienna, 1769", published in Eighteenth-Century Music, Volume 2, Issue 2, Cambridge University Press, can be accessed here (September 2023).

Chelys Sonora performing at the beautiful Joriskerk in Bredevoort (12th March 2023).

The Beesley Quartet, Maranathakerk, The Hague (23.10.2022)

A recital of late 18th century and early 19th century flute quartets performed on period instruments with Noortje Zanen (violin), Arwen Bouw (viola) and Maria Sanchez (cello). 

Baroque Week, The Grand Tour: Germany (14th - 21st August 2022)

Happy memories of the large orchestral sessions and C.P.E. Bach flute masterclasses.

Autumn Renaissance Flute Day (26.10.19), Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

"A delightful renaissance-flute-consort-day under the inspiring and very professional guidance of Clare Beesley" 

(Irene Lopes Cardozo, The Netherlands, participant)

Focussing on the rather topical theme of 'recycling', October's Renaissance flute day in Tunbridge Wells saw a lovely gathering of enthusiastic players. We explored the re-use and re-invention of a selection of popular Renaissance chansons in 3, 4, 5 and 6 part consort settings and, after a delicious lunch, delved into the realm of early notation, unbarred parts and original notation. 

Baroque Week (11 - 18 August 2019), Queen Anne's School, Caversham, UK.

With Leipzig as this year's theme, flautists at Baroque Week had plenty to keep them busy!

Some recollections below of two masterclasses focusing on Bach's flute sonatas and of our core work, Bach's B minor suite, in action at the final course concert.

Renaissance Flute Day (2.3.19)

What a day it was, it far outweighed my expectations,...Clare was an excellent tutor…Her informative but relaxed style was infectious, and I’m sure made for a brilliant day... (Heather Holt, MEMF)

Here are some snaps of a great day spent tutoring a group of Renaissance flute players brimming with enthusiam (and seemingly boundless energy!) in an event co-hosted by Worcestershire Early Music on 2nd March 2019. The day's emphasis lay in exploring 5, 4 and 3 part consort music. We began playing from modern editions, but by the afternoon these brave-hearted flautists had willingly embarked upon the task of reading from early notation. The schedule was tight and break-times brief, yet I still found myself having to drag them away from their playing in order to ply them with coffee and cake!

Huge thanks to all who so enthusiastically participated in the Renaissance flute day and to Worcestershire Early Music for their support in co-hosting the event. For Facebook users, Heather's full review can be found here. 

Concert Review (13.2.19) 

The lyricism’s intense; the duetting sonorities are literally breathtaking......beguiling and barnstorming in equal measure.

Read the full review of Calliope at St Nicholas, Brighton, by Dr Simon Jenner