Rachael Clegg

Rachael has enjoyed a busy and varied freelance career for the last 18 years, performing regularly with many of the UK's orchestras. Since 1999 she had been proud to hold the position of Principal Oboe with Manchester Camerata, with whom she has performed a number of concertos, including those composed by Vaughan Williams' and Mozart, under the baton of Music Director Douglas Boyd.

Chamber music is Rachael's first love, and interest which was sparked while studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. During this time she formed a successful trio which went on to perform at the Purcell Room in London and has had works commissioned for the group by composers including James MacMillan.

Alongside her commitments to Manchester Camerata, Rachael is frequently invited to play Principal with other orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Rachael still finds time to teach and she has been tutor of oboe at Chetham's School of Music for the past twelve years.

Playing the oboe and looking after her two young sons make for a physically demanding life, so Rachael tries (and sometimes fails!) to keep fit by running regularly.