B i o g r a p h y
Anthony Pike was born in Seoul, Korea, and studied the clarinet with Julian Farrell in London, Robert Marcellus in Chicago and Dame Thea King at the Royal College of Music. Anthony is the principal clarinet of the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO), and has performed orchestral and concerto concerts with them throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. ​
He has also appeared as guest principal with most of the British orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Chamber music collaborators have included Christian Zacharias, Ralph Gothóni, Joachim Trio, Zoffany Ensemble, ECO Ensemble, London Soloists Ensemble and Chamber Music Box. He is regularly invited, as chamber musician and soloist, to appear at international festivals which have included Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Nordland, Hong Kong and Bermuda.
Despite reading Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Magdalen College, Oxford, Anthony gradually became more absorbed with playing the clarinet. The National Federation of Music Societies' 'Young Artist' award provided a springboard for his recital career, and he made his Wigmore Hall debut in 1994. Concerto appearances at the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican, Cadogan Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall followed.
Anthony's discography includes Mozart Concerto for Basset Clarinet with Ralph Gothóni and the ECO, The Complete Works for Clarinet by Max Reger (Martin Jones, piano), Copland Clarinet Sextet, Ralph Vaughan Williams' Quintet and Studies on English Folksong for the London Soloists Ensemble debut CD. His most recent recording, Vienna Calling, is a collaboration with long-time duo partner John Lenehan of the Brahms Sonatas, alongside music by other sons of Vienna: Berg, Wellesz and Krenek.
Anthony is also a sought-after and experienced teacher. He is currently Professor of Clarinet at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, having previously taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is regularly invited to sit on judging panels for Music Colleges and awards committees.
Anthony plays on Selmer Recital Clarinets.
Studio and Film
Anthony Pike's is a familiar face in the studios of London. His earliest projects were with John Barry and the ECO, notably The Scarlet Letter (1995) and The Beyondness of Things (1999). He has played on soundtracks for a wide range of films, some of the most memorable being the more recent James Bond Films, Harry Potter, Shrek and Romeo and Juliet. His are the haunting clarinet solos on the Oscar-winning score for Atonement, and any fans of the television series Lewis will have heard Anthony representing the eponymous detective in the familiar theme tune.
He is also to be heard on albums by artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Robbie Williams, Björk and Bryan Ferry, and twice toured the Berlin album with the late legend, Lou Reed.
Anthony plays Bb, Bass, Contrabass, Eb Clarinets and Basset horn.
