Raymond Brien

Raymond is a resident Britten-Pears Artist 2022-2023 and award winning soloist, featured on disks by Tocca Classics, Another Timbre and Polytempo Records. Recent BBC Radio 3 broadcasts include numerous BBC Symphony Orchestra concerts, the BBC Total Immersion series and BCMG’s Sir Harrison Birtwistle feature broadcast. Raymond is on trial as principal clarinet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and regularly plays with numerous major professional ensembles throughout the UK. Recent chamber music highlights include regular recordings and performances with Apartment House and Riot Ensemble, as well as with the Farrenc Trio and Brien-Hao duo, both of which Raymond is co-founder. Raymond works closely with composers including Rebecca Saunders, Noah Max, Marc Yeats and Jürg Frey in developing and premiering new works which push the clarinet to new heights and bring new music to broader audiences. Raymond has been a semifinalist in the Bromsgrove International Music Competition, Tumbridge Wells International Music Competition, Royal Overseas League Competition and winner of first prizes in the Padova International Music Competition and Hatfield Music Festival Prize. As a busy soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, Raymond performs regularly across the UK and internationally, with upcoming solo recitals featured in Aldburgh Festival, across Sweden and London, UK. One of Raymond’s favourite performance memories is playing their first concerto (Nielsen Clarinet Concerto) with orchestra in 2016 after winning the Hatfield Music Prize. Raymond is also a composer and is passionate about developing further literature around how to write for the clarinet.