Qualifications

• MA (Psychology for Musicians)
• PG Dip (Professional Performance Studies)
• BA (Hons) Music
• ABSM (Teaching) with Distinction
• ABSM (Performing) with Merit
• Hon BC

Luan Shaw trained at Birmingham Conservatoire from 1990 - 1994, studying clarinet with Janet Hilton and Colin Parr. During her time there she won many scholarships and prizes including a Countess of Munster Award and the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Silver Medal, and she successfully auditioned for the European Union Youth Orchestra.  Following her graduation Luan embarked on a busy performing and teaching career and later read for a Masters Degree in Psychology for Musicians at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 2000.  Part of her final dissertation on group dynamics in wind quintets was published in the journal ‘Psychology of Music’ but she declined a scholarship to further her studies to PhD level in order to continue pursuing her many other ventures.  In 2001, Luan was awarded an honorary degree from Birmingham Conservatoire ‘in recognition of distinguished work within the field of music’. Luan now enjoys a rich and varied freelance career, dividing her time between performing, adjudicating, examining, moderating, teaching and leading music workshops.

In recent years, Luan has performed solo concertos by Mozart, Crusell, Weber and Nielsen and as an orchestral musician she perfoms regularly with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan, Orchestra Da Camera and Longborough Festival Opera.  Luan is also much sought after as a chamber musician: she was clarinettist of the Chameleon Ensemble for fifteen years, performing at festivals and recital venues throughout the UK, on BBC radio and as part of the Banff International Festival in Canada.  She now puts much of her energy into directing the newly formed Ensemble Luna.

Luan is also committed to music education and has been teaching children and adults of all ages and abilities for twenty years. She taught clarinet and coached chamber music at Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School since its inception in 1993 and was Co-ordinator of Woodwind and Brass there from 1997-2002.  She then held the post of Joint Head of Music: Head of Instrumental Studies at Hallfield School in Birmingham from 2002-2007.   Many of Luan’s former students have gained entry to courses at the RCM, RAM, RNCM, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Welsh College of Music and Drama.

 

As a freelance animateur Luan has worked on creative projects in conjunction with the CBSO, Orchestra of the Swan, Wigmore Hall, The Stables Theatre at Wavendon, Live Music Now, The Richard Attenborough Centre for Disability and the Arts at Leicester University, Birmingham Focus on Blindness and Birmingham Music Service.  Independently Luan runs music workshops for under 5’s (Bandstand Babies) and for special schools (Special Occasions) and also works with the Maskarade Clarinet Quartet and the Carousel Clarinet Duo giving concerts on behalf of The Council for Music in Hospitals and The Lost Chord Project for Dementia Sufferers.  

Luan qualified as an adjudicator member of the British and International Federation of Festivals in 2001 and has worked as a specialist and a generalist throughout the UK, including the National Festival of Music for Youth.  Luan's most recent venture has been into the field of assessment; moderating performance components for GCE (AS Level) Music and examining Diploma candidates for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.