Clare Hammond

Acclaimed as a ‘pianist of extraordinary gifts’ (Gramophone) and of ‘immense power’ (The Times), Clare Hammond is recognised for the virtuosity and authority of her performances. In 2016, she won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artist Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and in 2020 she was engaged to perform at the International Piano Series (Southbank Centre). She has appeared with the Philharmonia (Jamie Phillips), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Vasily Petrenko), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Michael Seal), BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Martyn Brabbins), Warsaw Philharmonic (Jacek Kaspszyk) and Swedish Chamber Orchestra (Nicholas McGegan). Performances during the pandemic included recitals for the Wigmore Hall and Aldeburgh Music, a live recital broadcast for BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts from St David’s Cardiff, and broadcast recordings of Moussa and Carwithen with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (Geoffrey Paterson) and BBC Concert Orchestra (Gavin Sutherland).

Clare Hammond’s discs for BIS have been widely praised, with Variations (BIS-2493) receiving extensive critical approval. The disc was commended for its ‘shimmering pianism and lightly-worn virtuosity’ (BBC Music Magazine) and ‘artistry of the highest order’ (Musical Opinion), while Crescendo (Belgium) hailed her as ‘one of the most exploratory pianistic personalities of our time’. Her discography includes world première recordings of over 45 works. Clare Hammond completed a BA at Cambridge University, where she obtained a double first in music, and undertook postgraduate study with Ronan O’Hora at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.