Rebecca Clare Douglas

Clare was born and raised in north west England, and began her musical journey as a five year old, studying piano and, later, violin. Her teachers included Andrea Coburn, Martin Milner O.B.E. (Leader, Hallé Orchestra) and Professor Paul Robertson (Leader, Medici String Quartet). As a chamber musician she received coaching from Raphael Wallfisch and members of the Alberni and Lindsay string quartets.

 

As an undergraduate Clare read Music at Keble College, Oxford University where she was also President of the Music Society. In addition she was the director of the Oxford Classical Chorus, leader of the Tuckett String Quartet, and leader of the Serafin String Ensemble.

 

Since moving back 'up North' Clare has pursued a varied career in music including working as a peripatetic instrumental teacher for North Yorkshire and holding a post for ten years at Giggleswick School as Assistant Director of Music and Head of Strings. Currently she enjoys a thriving teaching practice in her home, in regional schools and online, specialising in Upper Strings, Traditional Folk Fiddle, Theory and Piano for both children and adults. For several years she she has been delighted to tutor at the invitation of the national Music For People Summer School of Music.

 

As a violinist and violist Clare has led and coached orchestras including the Burnley Symphony, Settle Orchestra, Skipton Building Society Camerata, Skipton Community Orchestra, Incognito Strings, and she is a founder member of rock and pop string quartet What the Pluck.

 

In addition to her work in classical and crossover music Clare is a fiddler in the internationally renowned Highland dance band, the Pictish Players, with whom she has recorded three albums and performed in many diverse places including the Scottish Highlands, Whitehall, Paris, Istanbul, Venice and India. Clare enjoys playing fiddle and piano for several ceilidh bands, and during lockdown she wrote her first folk tune-book, The Fiddler From the Mountain of Fire.

 

Currently Clare is enjoying a busy touring schedule with her folk duo, Douglas and Moss as they celebrate the release of their debut album.

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Clare lives in Giggleswick, North Yorkshire, U.K. with her husband, her drum-playing son, a dog and a terrapin. 

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