Our conductors
CLAIRE STOCKER (Conductor 2023 to date)
After graduating from the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Claire undertook a Post Graduate Certificate in education course in Cardiff, then returned to Hampshire to pursue a career in teaching and playing. She worked with Hampshire and Southampton music services and in several sixth form colleges as a flute specialist. More recently she taught in private schools.
In 1998 Claire established the Southampton Flute Choirs and was their Musical Director for fifteen years. Claire performs with local professional and semi-professional orchestras in the South of England and the Midlands and is also a keen chamber musician. She is a founding member of Flute Roots, a professional flute trio comprised of friends who learnt with Robin Soldan. They have regularly performed in fundraising concerts, led workshops and have also inspired several new, advanced works for flute trio.
Currently living in the Midlands with her husband, Claire is enjoying teaching, playing and is delighted to be involved with MusicMOB, a local charity which provides free music tuition to pupils in state funded schools. Claire is also a committee member and official accompanist of the Oswestry Youth Music Festival.
OUR PREVIOUS CONDUCTORS
TONY BRIDGEWATER (Conductor 2013 - 2022)
began his music studies at the then Birmingham School of Music, now the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied piano. Studies continued at St.John’s College, Cambridge where he specialised in composition and piano performance. Until recently, Director of Music at Old Swinford Hospital School, he is an accomplished soloist, accompanist and chamber-music player. He is also a much-respected teacher and orchestral conductor and has composed a wide range of instrumental and choral music which has received acclaimed performances. www.tonybridgewatermusic.co.uk
KENNETH BELL (Conductor 2008 - 2013)
freelance flautist and former bandmaster of the RAF Central Band and the Band of the RAF Regiment, Kenneth studied music at Edinburgh University, with post-graduate studies in Flute and Conducting gaining him further qualifications from the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music.
He is an accomplished flautist, with wide experience of solo and orchestral playing, and also much in demand as a flute teacher. He also has considerable experience in orchestral and wind band conducting. A former Chairman of the British Flute Society, Kenneth now works as a freelance musician and is a Music Examiner for Trinity College London.
freelance flautist and former bandmaster of the RAF Central Band and the Band of the RAF Regiment, Kenneth studied music at Edinburgh University, with post-graduate studies in Flute and Conducting gaining him further qualifications from the Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music.
He is an accomplished flautist, with wide experience of solo and orchestral playing, and also much in demand as a flute teacher. He also has considerable experience in orchestral and wind band conducting. A former Chairman of the British Flute Society, Kenneth now works as a freelance musician and is a Music Examiner for Trinity College London.
