"…Shipman
was the star of the evening…virtuoso dexterity and agility of mind, lungs,
lips and fingers…compelling…" Hilary Finch, The Times
"…Shipman
was the star of the evening…virtuoso dexterity and agility of mind, lungs,
lips and fingers…compelling…" Hilary Finch, The Times
Nicholas Shipman studied the clarinet with Jack Brymer OBE before going to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he studied with Joy Farrall, Dame Thea King and Michael Whight, gaining his Bmus (hons). He completed his full-time studies with Sjef Douwes at the Royal Conservatorium for Music and Dance in The Hague, Holland, where he received his Solo Performance Certificate. He has taken part in masterclasses with Walter Boeykens, Michel Lethiec, Stefan Harg and John Reynolds and taken lessons in consultation with Linda Merrick, Angela Malsbury and Antony Pay.
In 1999 Nicholas was the winner of the Croydon Symphony Orchestra Soloist Award and was one of the Park Lane Group prize winners in 2004. He performed in one of their showcase concerts in the Purcell Room in London's South Bank Centre where, among other works, he gave the world première of 'Three Maquettes' for solo clarinet by Douglas Young. This concert was highly praised by the national press. In 2005 he was selected by the Fresh Young Musician's Platform to give a recital in the Purcell Room in their prestigious series for young musicians.
Fast emerging as one of the United Kingdom's most exciting clarinettists of his generation, Nicholas has already appeared as soloist with many orchestras in the United Kingdom performing works by a wide range of composers in venues such as the Fairfield Hall, Croydon; St. James' Church, Piccadilly; and St. George's, Bristol. As a chamber musician he has performed in the Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall and St John's, Smith Square and taken part in the Aldeburgh Festival, the Dartington International Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and 'Muziek in de Maartenskerk International Chamber Music Series' in Holland, following in the footsteps of musicians such as James Galway, Heinrich Schiff, Idil Biret and the King's Singers. With regular duo partners You-Chiung Lin and Stefan Hofkes he has given recitals throughout the UK and Europe. He has given a recital in St George's, Bristol in their Award Winners Series and a performance of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet with the Ad Libitum String Quartet of Romania in The Netherlands and performed an acclaimed "carte blanche" concert at Wigmore Hall last season. He now holds the position of principal clarinet with the Aries Contemporary Music Ensemble and for the annual Opera! Festival in Zeist in The Netherlands.
In 1999 he co-founded the Englefield Ensemble (clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, soprano and mezzo soprano), which since forming has performed in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France and Dubai. The Englefield Ensemble released their first CD 'Romantic Chamber Music Vol 1' in 2001. Nicholas has broadcast as soloist for BBC Radio, Chinese national radio and for Dutch Radio 4 in a live broadcast from the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.
Last updated: 15 March 2008
