About Us | sherwood-clarinets

About us and our members

We are a "not for profit" organisation

We play all kinds of music - trios, quartets and full clarinet choir arrangements, from popular songs through to classical repertoire

We have a great library of sheet music to choose from - over 200 pieces and still growing!

We perform around three to four times per year, at charity concerts, garden parties, weddings, etc.

Our aims are diversity, quality and enjoyment

We would love to welcome new players!

Hello, I'm Steve! I retired from full-time teaching in 2014 after 36 years in both Secondary and Primary education, but now work part time in an alternative provision. I love making music and encouraged this in school, leading choirs, music groups and brass ensembles. I now conduct the Sherwood Clarinets, having previously conducted the Calverton Orchestra for a number of years.

As a child I played the Trumpet, and French Horn in the Orphean Youth Orchestra then later the Leicester University Orchestra and Brass Ensemble, and when at college, the Derby Concert Orchestra. I enjoy singing, and in the past have sung in the Leicester Philharmonic Choir, the Phoenix Singers, the Ruddington Choral Society and the Nottingham Boys' Choir. I am now a member of the Nottingham Harmonic Choir, Mansfield Choral Society and the Newstead Abbey Singers, as well as sing in performances with the choir of St. Philip Neri Church in Mansfield.

The Sherwood Clarinets are a great bunch of people who make "making music" a joy. They put 100% into their music making, and are going from strength to strength.

Penny - I started learning the clarinet at school aged 12 or 13 and played in the school wind ensemble. I then went to the Royal Manchester College of Music (now the Royal Northern) with clarinet as my second study; piano being my first.

I have enjoyed playing in various groups and was a founder member of the Sherwood Clarinet Society (now known as Sherwood Clarinets). I also teach the clarinet along with the piano. My favourite composer is Mozart.

Hi! I’m Sue and I play bass and “regular” B flat clarinet with the group.

I fell in love with the clarinet at the age of 8 or 9, and for years dreamt of learning how to play. However, it wasn’t until I reached the ripe old age of 50 that I decided the time was right, so I bought a cheap clarinet and started taking lessons. I am now retired from my job as a special needs teacher so, in theory, have loads of time to practise!

I enjoy playing a wide range of music, although I guess classical is my favourite!

Hello, I’m John. I began playing at the age of 11, progressing from the recorder. This eventually led to a career in school music teaching.

I really enjoy the wide variety of music we play and the friendly, supportive atmosphere in the group.

Mark - I started playing sometime around 2007 when my wife bought me a clarinet and I began having lessons.

Then I joined Sherwood Clarinets a couple of years later having picked up one of their leaflets at a local orchestral workshop.

I enjoy playing with others in this very friendly environment, and being part of an ensemble like Sherwood Clarinets offers a very positive experience which has really helped to develop my playing.

I’m Tony. I’m a retired engineer and have been playing clarinet for about 10 years.

The group is very friendly and I have had a lot of help with my playing.

Hannah - I started playing the clarinet when I was about 9 years old. I had lessons with Penny for several years and, in September 2002, she encouraged me to join a new clarinet group that was just starting. I was a regular member of the group until I went to the University of Nottingham to study Music in 2005. While at university I enjoyed attending rehearsals during the holidays and catching up with my clarinet friends. I now teach secondary music and don’t have much time for playing in the group but still keep in touch and play when I can.

The highlight of my clarinet playing career was performing at my own wedding in August 2013. It was lovely to play with the Sherwood Clarinets (and some other good friends) on my wedding day.

Hi, I'm Thanh. I'm not a natural musician, but I loved the sound of the clarinet from an early age. I started playing clarinet when I was 12 years old, thanks to the East Sussex Music Service. I'm from Hastings and was part of the town's youth symphony and wind orchestras as a teenager.

Later on, I continued to play clarinet for fun with the Manchester University Wind Orchestra, University of East Anglia Choir and Orchestra Society (including clarinet and recorder ensembles), Southampton University Concert Band and since 2018, Sherwood Clarinets!

I’m Jenny and have been playing the clarinet since the age of 12 - encouraged by my father who was a big fan of Benny Goodman.

I benefitted massively from the Lincolnshire County Music Services - free instrumental lessons, wind bands and county youth orchestra.

Since retiring from full time work a few years ago I’ve had more time for music and joined Sherwood Clarinets in January 2023

Hello, I’m Jason and I play the Bb, A and Eb clarinet. I’ve been musical for as long as I can remember, having been a singer in choirs from being a boy. But I first began playing the clarinet at aged 14 by accident really (after several failed attempts at trombone, tuba, and French horn) and instantly fell in love with it. I went onto GCSE and A-Level music completing all 8 grades in the space of 3 years so that I could go to the University of Manchester to study Music and Drama.

After my degree I taught secondary music for 5 years before taking a big life change into Methodist ministry. I am now a Methodist Minister in Nottingham and have found an outlet again to make clarinet music. I am also the musical director for the British Methodist Choral Society.

I really enjoy playing and listening to a wide range of music, and now I am really pleased to have found a group to do that with through my clarinet.

Past members

Hi, I’m Martin. When at school I used to play in the orchestra and band, taking lessons to a grade 6 standard. Since then, I’ve played very occasionally and it is just recently that I have joined “Sherwood Clarinets”, in June 2015.

I am finding the group friendly and am enjoying the range of pieces played so far.

Unfortunately, one of our members, Jack, passed away in 2019 and a regular singer with our group, Carole, passed away in 2020. Both are very dearly missed. We held a memorial concert for both in 2022, and you can view information on this event in our 'News and events' section.

Hello, my name is Jack. I am a retired engineer and I came to playing music relatively late, in the early 1990s in fact, and I just love it! I enjoy all types of music, from classical through to Jazz. I have played in wind bands and orchestras.

Sherwood Clarinets is a friendly group of people with some great ideas for the future.

Carole sang regularly with Sherwood Clarinets.