Sheena Balmain - Clarinet

Edinburgh-born Sheena grew up in Wrexham and during her school years played in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. A lifetime ago she studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Colin Parr where she won the Concerto Competition and at the Royal College of Music with Colin Bradbury. After her two gorgeous daughters were born, Sheena went back to college and qualified as a musical instrument repairer. Sheena now lives, teaches and repairs instruments locally in Wimbledon, spending most of her free time having fun playing in London amateur orchestras. She’s also been known to enjoy a wee glass or two after concerts with chums. The highlight of Sheena’s clarinet career so far is playing duets with her hero, the late Jack Brymer.

Sheena has been our principal clarinettist since 2007 and we were delighted to accompany her for her stunning performances of Britten/Matthews' Movements for a Clarinet Concerto and Artie Shaw's Concerto for Clarinet in our June 2019 concert.