Karen Wimhurst is a freelance composer, clarinettist, choral conductor and educator. She has worked both creating and performing music with all ages, from mothers and babies to senior citizens.

For Elevate and hospital settings, Karen focusses on a light jazz repertoire, encouraging people to sing along as well as improvising on the clarinet.

Karen has been commissioned by numerous festivals, ensembles and theatre companies throughout the UK. Recent works in a diverse portfolio include the theatre piece ‘w_RAP’, written as composer in residence with MoDiP; ‘Get Up and Tie Your Fingers’ (about women and herring fishing in Eyemouth); ‘Freedom, Bread and Peace’, multi-media music theatre exploring the rise and fall of communism for Bournemouth Festival by the Sea); Heartwood, a processional work celebrating the ash trees of Britain; and Miriam, a chamber opera for Electric Voice Theatre exploring the life of entomologist Miriam Rothschild.

Her recently released album Clarion, with accordionist Paul Hutchinson is featured in Songlines Top of the World CD 2016. Other recent albums include Timepiece with the jazz quartet ‘Misbehavin’. Visit Karen’s website: www.karenwimhurst.co.uk