Meet our leader

In the 2011/12 season we have two co-leaders, Clare Gorner and Anne Heaton.

Clare Gorner

Clare Gorner

Clare's musical education started on piano, aged five, and on violin, aged 11. Her violin teachers included Andrea Coburn, Martin Milner OBE (former leader of the Hallé Orchestra) and Professor Paul Robertson (leader of the Medici String Quartet). She also received chamber music coaching from Raphael Wallfisch and members of the Alberni and Lindsay string quartets. Claire studied music at Keble College, Oxford. While there, Clare played in many university orchestras, was president of the Music Society, director of the Oxford Classical Chorus, leader of the Tuckett String Quartet and leader of the Serafin String Ensemble.

Since completion of her MA degree from Oxford, Clare has pursued a varied career as a teacher and performer. In 2006 she completed 10 years as Assistant Director of Music and Head of Strings at Giggleswick School and is currently engaged in a project with North Yorkshire Education Authority, running music groups for pre-school children. She also enjoys a thriving teaching practice in Giggleswick, specialising in upper strings and piano for both children and adults.

Clare is in great demand as an orchestral, chamber and solo violinist, her engagements include leading the Burnley Symphony Orchestra (1997 to present) and solo work with orchestras across the north of England. As well as her work in classical music, Clare is a fiddler for the internationally renowned Scottish fiddle-band, Pictish Players. She has played for Highland balls in locations ranging from the Banqueting Hall in Whitehall, London, to the British Embassy in Paris and the Fursten Palance in Vienna and has recorded two albums with the band.

Clare will lead Settle Orchestra in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Anne Heaton

Anne Heaton

Anne studied violin and piano at London College of Music, winning many awards and leading all of the College orchestras. She then studied at the National Centre of Orchestral Studies and worked with some of the world's top conductors including Sir Simon Rattle.

After working in Germany for a few years, Anne began teaching in London and soon realised that this was the career she wanted to follow. She has worked for the North Yorkshire County Music Service for over twenty years and is Head of Skipton Music Centre.

Anne performs regularly throughout the north west and has been leader of the Lancashire Chamber Orchestra since 2004, performing at the Bridgewater Hall, Royal Northern College of Music and The Lowry. She was leader of Settle Orchestra in the 1990s and is delighted to take up this role again and especially to encourage young musicians in the Craven area to join their local orchestra.

Anne will lead Settle Orchestra in the Summer term.