Borodin arr. Morland – Nocturne from String Quartet No. 2 (Clarinet Quartet)

Stephen Pierce (aka Morland) studied clarinet with Wilfred Kealey, Colin Bradbury and John McCaw, and studied bass clarinet with Stephen Trier. Since leaving the Royal College of Music in 1975 he has been in demand over a wide range of musical styles. He was for many years principal clarinet with the Orchestra de Camera, and has played for many of the British orchestras on both clarinet and saxophone. He has worked for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. With the National Symphony Orchestra he has recorded something in the region of 65 complete musicals for TER records. Stephen has always been a keen chamber musician, and as a soloist made his debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1980. For many years his principal occupation was as a recitalist and lecture recitalist. He was a member of the Marlborough Wind Quintet and the clarinet sextet Capital Clarinet. His wind Octet Harmoniemusik of London made its debut recording with Virgin Classics as well as its Wigmore Hall debut in 1997. At present Stephen plays bass clarinet with Saxpac, a saxophone septet, as well as clarinet in the Reineke Ensemble. Stephen has made numerous recordings, including the original cast recording of 'Phantom of the Opera'. He has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre, London and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford, and has also worked for the New Shakespeare's Globe as well as in many West End productions. Stephen is a former professor of clarinet and saxophone at the London College of Music.