Gareth McLearnon, flute

International flautist and multi prize-winner, Gareth McLearnon left his home town of Belfast and Northern Ireland in 1999 to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a student, Gareth was invited by Sir James Galway to record – and in the company of harpist Marisa Robles – one of the tracks of the disc ‘Songs for Alexander’ of the Master. At the end of his studies, rewarded with his relative diplomas, Gareth McLearnon is awarded the prestigious Ian Fleming for Musicians Benevolent Fund Prize as well as the Countess of Munster Trust Prize. Shortly after this, he was nominated for the post of principal flautist of the Southbank Sinfonia for the season of 2005.

A versatile artist, Gareth is in demand for his qualities as soloist, chamber musician for orchestra or for studio sessions; to his name, hundreds of concerts he has given have lead him to all corners of the globe. He has taught over 2000 flautists in masterclasses and meetings, especially through the project Flutewise – Children’s Flute Charity.

In June 2013, Gareth McLearnon is named Professor at the International Academy of Music – Yuri Bashmet in Samar, Russia. Several engagements throughout the whole of Russia follow his participation in this event: Masterclasses in Novossibirsk, Tollyatti, Ekaterinbourg, Zhoukovskiy, Moscou, Yaroslavl and Kazan, and a concerto at the Festival of Yaroslavl, with the Soloists of Moscou directed by the Maestro Bashmet himself. Gareth is principal flautist of the Heritage Orchestra of London since 2009 with which he has given concerts all over the United Kingdom as well as in Europe.

Gareth McLearnon lends his talents to the Concordia Foundation since 2003. He is an International Abassador for this organisation since 2008. Concerts, masterclasses and musical exchanges in Monaco, Shanghai, Sienne or Nairobi, were all opportunities for him to put the work of the Foundation to the forefront: ‘To create crossroads towards friendship and excellence by art and music’.

Gareth McLearnon is also a composer and published arranger. His original works for flute groups have been played all around the world and his album Round Ireland with a Flute is published by Theordore Presser (USA).

Gareth McLearnon is an artist-ambassador in European residence for Wm. S. Haynes Co. He plays a Haynes flute, 14 carat gold, handmade.