Biography
Clare Varney is a freelance writer and music critic who writes about Music, Food and Culture.
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.
Clare juggled this with leading highly successful high school Music and English departments, coaching students to find success in local, county, regional and national level competitions and performances. A number of her 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, regularly reviewing artists such as Klaus Mäkelä, Riccardo Chailly, Gustavo Dudamel, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, Janine Jansen and Daniil Trifonov. This allows Clare to gain a unique insight into current trends in classical music, and identify new and rising talents – stories which she shares with audiences in the Netherlands and further afield.
Food Writer
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!
English Teacher
Clare also has a busy teaching practice at the University of Twente where she teaches Cambridge English and Academic Writing, helping academics, PhD students and business professionals to use increasingly sophisticated English to enhance their career in the business and academic world.
Clare started writing in September 2021, with her blog The Spidy Editor later featuring on the Dutch News website as one of the best blogs about the Netherlands and all things Dutch. She had so many ideas and thoughts rolling round in her head, she just had to put pen to paper and be brave.