Gareth McLearnon

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gareth McLearnon


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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
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Origin = Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Genre = Classical, Folk
Occupation = Flautist, Music Arranger, Writer on Flute Related Topics
Years_active = 1996-"present"
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URL = [http://www.myspace.com/garethmclearnon]
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Notable_instruments = Flute, Folk Whistles

Gareth McLearnon (born January 17, 1980) began his flute playing career in his native Belfast, making his way through the ranks of the 39th Old Boys Flute Band, before moving to London in 1999 to attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Whilst still a student there McLearnon recorded with the legendary flute-player, Sir James Galway and Harpist Marisa Robles for the charity CD Songs for Alexander.

McLearnon is also an active arranger of music, and is collaborating with Sir James Galway on a collection of Irish Flute and Piano music for the Theodore Presser Company, which is due for release in August 2008 - this all happened following Galway playing one of McLearnon's arrangements on Live from Lincoln Center to a U.S. TV Audience of around 8 million people in December 2004. McLearnon's journalism skills have recently been featured in "Pan Magazine" in an article he wrote about Philippe Barnes and he has had his article entitled: "On buying the Flute" featured in a "Wind & Brass" issue of "Classical Music Magazine" and in an issue of "Flutewise Magazine".

McLearnon is a recipient of the 2003 Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Music Education Award, a Countess of Munster Musical Trust Award and was awarded full scholarships to attend Sir James Galways Masterclasses in Italy (2003) and Switzerland (2004) McLearnon has given recitals all over the U.K. and Europe for the Ireland Funds, Invest Northern Ireland, and the Concordia Foundation, and is currently a Making Music Recommended Artist for 2006.

McLearnon gained a place in Southbank Sinfonia - "Britains Professional Orchestral Academy" for its 2005 season which involved being part of almost 90 concerts including fully staged opera, World Premieres, solo performances and a solo concerto.

His professional orchestral experience also includes playing in concerts and BBC TV & Radio recordings with the Ulster Orchestra, The London Pops Orchestra, Opera Australia, he has played in West-End Shows and has toured with Nigel Kennedy. He is a founder member of EMFEB, an exciting young orchestra resident at St. Johns-at-Hackney.

McLearnon is a Pearl Flutes International Artist and is also employed by Pearl Music Europe as their Flute Specialist, and plays on one of Pearl's finest custom made 14K Gold Maesta instruments with a 14K Gold headjoint by Dana Sheridan.

External links

*http://www.thegalwaynetwork.com/index.html
*http://www.pearlflute.com/_english/artists.html