Ashley Solomon
Encyclopedia
Ashley Solomon is an English flautist
and recorder player, specialising in period performance of baroque
and classical music on the recorder
and historical flutes.
As Director of Florilegium
much of Ashley’s time is spent working and performing with Florilegium, the ensemble he co-founded in 1991. They have a busy touring schedule and each year perform at major international festivals and concert series throughout Europe as well as the Americas. Florilegium have been recording with Channel Classics Records
since 1993 and have to date made 19 recordings on this Dutch label.
Born in Sussex, Ashley won a recorder and flute scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
in London where he was awarded first class honours. He went on to complete his post-graduate studies there in 1991 with a scholarship from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust studying recorder with Peter Holtslag and baroque and classical flute with Lisa Beznosiuk
. That same year he won first prize in the Moeck International Recorder Competition, resulting in a solo debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall
. This led to a debut solo recording project for the English label Meridian Records
of recorder and Italian baroque flute music which was released in 1994.
He has performed as a soloist throughout Europe, the Americas, the Far East and Australia, in prestigious venues including the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), The Frick Collection (New York), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and the Sydney Opera House. He frequently records programmes for radio and television and as well as his many recordings with Florilegium for Channel Classics, he has been recording as a solo artist for the same label since 1998. His solo discography on Channel Classics includes the complete Bach Flute Sonatas (2 volumes) as well as a recording of music for period harp and flute with works by Mozart, Rossini, Gluck, Nadermann, Bochsa and Tulou. Volume 1 of the Bach Sonatas was described by Gramophone magazine as “exceptional…prepare to be uplifted” and it went on to be selected as one of the magazines favourite CDs for 2001.
From 1997-2000 Ashley was a frequent guest principal flautist with the Sydney based Australian Chamber Orchestra
when they performed on period instruments. This position involved several national tours each year as well as recordings for CD and national radio.
In 1998 he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and this was followed in 2000 with Honorary Membership of the Royal College of Music. Much in demand as a teacher he has been Professor at the Royal College of Music
since 1994 and given master classes and lectures in Australia, The Americas, The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Norway and the UK. In 2006 he was appointed Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music
.
Ashley was awarded the 2008 Hans Roth Prize. The first Britton to receive this prestigious Bolivian award, it was given to him in recognition of his tireless efforts and the assistance he has given to the Bolivian native Indians, their presence on the international stage and the promotion and preservation of this music.
Flautist
A flautist or flutist is a musician who plays an instrument in the flute family. See List of flautists.The choice of "flautist" versus "flutist" is the source of dispute among players of the instrument...
and recorder player, specialising in period performance of baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
and classical music on the recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
and historical flutes.
As Director of Florilegium
Florilegium early music ensemble
Florilegium is an early music ensemble based in London. The Director, Ashley Solomon co-founded the group in 1991, and Florilegium's performances range from intimate chamber music to large-scale orchestral repertoire...
much of Ashley’s time is spent working and performing with Florilegium, the ensemble he co-founded in 1991. They have a busy touring schedule and each year perform at major international festivals and concert series throughout Europe as well as the Americas. Florilegium have been recording with Channel Classics Records
Channel Classics Records
Channel Classics Records is a record label from the Netherlands, specializing in classical music. The managing director and producer is C. Jared Sacks, who grew up in Boston. Sacks was schooled as a professional horn player at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam...
since 1993 and have to date made 19 recordings on this Dutch label.
Born in Sussex, Ashley won a recorder and flute scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London where he was awarded first class honours. He went on to complete his post-graduate studies there in 1991 with a scholarship from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust studying recorder with Peter Holtslag and baroque and classical flute with Lisa Beznosiuk
Lisa Beznosiuk
Lisa Beznosiuk is an English flautist of Ukrainian and Irish descent, specialising in period performance of baroque and classical music on historical flutes.-Biography and career:...
. That same year he won first prize in the Moeck International Recorder Competition, resulting in a solo debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
. This led to a debut solo recording project for the English label Meridian Records
Meridian Records
Meridian Records is a British independent record label based in London. It is a long established company having been founded in 1977 and has celebrated 34 years of recording in its reveered classical music 'natural sound'....
of recorder and Italian baroque flute music which was released in 1994.
He has performed as a soloist throughout Europe, the Americas, the Far East and Australia, in prestigious venues including the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), The Frick Collection (New York), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and the Sydney Opera House. He frequently records programmes for radio and television and as well as his many recordings with Florilegium for Channel Classics, he has been recording as a solo artist for the same label since 1998. His solo discography on Channel Classics includes the complete Bach Flute Sonatas (2 volumes) as well as a recording of music for period harp and flute with works by Mozart, Rossini, Gluck, Nadermann, Bochsa and Tulou. Volume 1 of the Bach Sonatas was described by Gramophone magazine as “exceptional…prepare to be uplifted” and it went on to be selected as one of the magazines favourite CDs for 2001.
From 1997-2000 Ashley was a frequent guest principal flautist with the Sydney based Australian Chamber Orchestra
Australian Chamber Orchestra
The Australian Chamber Orchestra was founded by cellist John Painter in 1975. Richard Tognetti was appointed Lead Violin in 1989 and subsequently appointed Artistic Director....
when they performed on period instruments. This position involved several national tours each year as well as recordings for CD and national radio.
In 1998 he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and this was followed in 2000 with Honorary Membership of the Royal College of Music. Much in demand as a teacher he has been Professor at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
since 1994 and given master classes and lectures in Australia, The Americas, The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Norway and the UK. In 2006 he was appointed Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
.
Ashley was awarded the 2008 Hans Roth Prize. The first Britton to receive this prestigious Bolivian award, it was given to him in recognition of his tireless efforts and the assistance he has given to the Bolivian native Indians, their presence on the international stage and the promotion and preservation of this music.