Band of the Irish Guards director 'an inspiration'

A music charity said it was "thrilled" a former student was chosen as the new director of music for the Band of the Irish Guards.

Peter Smalley, chief executive at Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT), said Captain Claire Lawrence, who learned to play violin and flute with the trust, was "an inspiration and outstanding role model".

Capt Lawrence was born and educated in Northampton.

She has toured with two musicals - Les Misérables and Beauty and the Beast - as well as being the bandmaster for the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Band of the Welsh Guards.

Mr Smalley said: "We are thrilled.

"She is an inspiration and an outstanding role model for the current NMPAT students, wondering where their music might take them.

"We wish her every success."

The charity said its former students could be found "in every music college/ conservatoire, and every professional orchestra in the country".

At the recent BBC Proms, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra's performance of Olivia Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony featured three former trumpet players, out of a section of five, and The London Contemporary Orchestra, which performed "Modern Movie Soundtracks", was co-founded by Robert Ames, a former student.

The Band of the Irish Guards is made up of musicians from The Royal Corps of Army Music.

It is based in Central London and its main tasks include Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and performing for the monarch's birthday parade.

Capt Lawrence studied at Trinity College London and attended the Royal College of Music, graduating in 1995, the Army said.

She spent nine years as a freelance violinist and in 2004 she joined the Central Band of the RAF Music as a flautist and piccolo player, and later transferred to The Royal Corps of Army Music.

While serving as bandmaster at The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra, she spent six weeks training the female platoons of the Jordanian Armed Forces Band while completing a masters degree.

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