Clare Varney is a freelance writer and music critic currently based in the Netherlands.

Clare studied music at both Cardiff and Cambridge University, travelling to London each fortnight to study the violin with Sybil Glickman (née Copeland) in Golders Green. She subsequently spent much of the ensuing 30 years playing semi-professionally in orchestras in the east of England, working with conductors such as Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Harding, and the ever increasing number of incredible musicians living near Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings on the Suffolk coast.

Ultimately choosing the path of a teacher, Clare juggled playing the violin with leading successful high school Music and English departments in the UK, coaching students to find success in performances and competitions at a local, county, regional and national level. A number of past students now have successful careers in the music industry – something which gives her immense joy.

Music Critic

After moving to the Netherlands in 2020, Clare now covers a wide range of musical events all over the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany for the London-based international online music publication, Bachtrack, DutchNews and her own website The Spidy Editor, regularly reviewing and interviewing artists such as Klaus Mäkelä, Riccardo Chailly, Gustavo Dudamel, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Augustin Hadelich, Vilde Frang, Vikingur Ólafsson, Lang Lang, Janine Jansen and Daniil Trifinov. This allows Clare to gain a unique insight into current trends in classical music. She has a keen eye for what is ‘hot’ and what is ‘not’.

She is also attuned to spotting young and rising talents, often tracking promising young individuals and their progress on her Instagram feed, bringing their talents to the attention of a wider audience.

English Teacher

Clare also has a busy teaching practice at the University of Twente and Radboud University where she teaches Cambridge English, helping academics, PhD students and business professionals to use increasingly sophisticated English to enhance their career in the business and academic world.

Food

Clare is also passionate about food, and is particularly interested in sharing the stories of the many and varied artisan producers in the Netherlands where she lives. Everything from artisan cheeses, high quality grass-fed meat and game producers, fish, ice-cream, chocolate and yes, even Dutch wine!