Marc B. Naylor
Clarinetist

Marc B Naylor is an internationally acclaimed clarinettist and saxophonist.
With years of professional experience, he delivers unforgettable performances.
His dedication has inspired future generations of musicians.

Marc began his study of the clarinet with the virtuoso clarinettist Phillip Miechel, who held the position of Principal Clarinet with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. 

After several years of study, Marc achieved the Licentiate of Music Australia, the highest examination then available to music students. Marc continued to study with Phillip Miechel after leaving school and attending The Victorian College of the Arts. 

It was then decided that Marc should return home to England to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. From 1982 until 1985. Prior to beginning his studies Marc gave his first London recital at Leighton House, sponsored by the British musical instrument producers Boosey and Hawkes.

Marc then attended the Guildhall school studyimg clarinet with Jack Brymer, Basset Horn and saxophone with Stephen Trier and E flat clarinet with Ronald Watson. He also studied composition with Carey Blyton and conducting with Vilem Tausky and Leonard Bernstein.

During 1984, Marc formed The New Chamber Players, a flexible chamber ensemble in order to give revival performances of works by British composer York Bowen, including his Clarinet Sonata and Phantasy Quintet for Bass Clarinet and String Quartet. With this ensemble Marc gave many concerts throughout England, including the British Music Information Centre and in the annual City of London Festivals. Marc also gave performances of the Holbrooke and Coleridge-Taylor Clarinet Quintets. 

After graduating from the Guildhall School in 1985, Marc's duo Lyrion with harpist Ruth Holden began giving concerts at many venues around England. They were also invited to play before HRH Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at a luncheon held at Luton Hoo to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary.

Marc continued to work with pianist Marjorie Dutton who he had met prior to entering Guildhall. They formed a duo that creating an interesting repertoire which included the core works for clarinet and piano as well as premiering several new works which were composed specifically for them. It was at this time that Marc became acquainted with Australian composer, John Carmichael who was living in London. Marc knew of John's music which was well known throughout Australia and was thrilled when John wrote a Dance Suite  for Clarinet & Piano for him. It was this suite which would form the musical score for a new ballet, being created at the Guildford School of Drama and Dance. Marc joined John Carmichael for several performances of the new ballet. Following the premiere of the new work Marc and John recorded the Dance Suite for later use.

Marc formed the Concordia Ensemble with pianist Marjorie Dutton and violinist Charles Meinardi to explore and perform the repertoire for this group, including the beautiful Khachaturian Trio and Contrasts by Bartok. They also revived the trios by Wordsworth and as well as having a new trio written for them entitled "Avram Blok"

In 2005 Marc was invited to represent Great Britain at the International Tarogato Festival, held at Vaja, Hungary. During the festival, Marc demonstrated the repertoire which the instrument was attracting in England, including both accompanied and unaccompanied music. He then took part in a week long concert tour of Hungary, Romania and Transylvania with the International Tarogato Ensemble.

On his return to England, Marc formed The Rakoczi Duo with pianist Karen Newby to promote the Tarogato, arranging many of the Hungarian folk songs which he had found, for Tarogato and piano, giving recitals and interesting composers in writing new works for him  As a result Marc published two volumes of music for Tarogato, one of new unaccompanied music and one of solo music with piano accompaniment.

Marc furthered his musical studies working on a doctoral thesis, its subject being the work of Anton Stadler and his relationship with the composer Mozart. Marc was awarded the doctorate in 2005. He also formed The Stadler Ensemble with string quartet and mezzo soprano. They performed Mozart's well known "Stadler Quintet" for clarinet and strings as well as completed versions of quintet movements which Mozart left incomplete. They also gave performances of the arias "Parto Parto!" with basset clarinet obbligato and "Non piu di fiori" with basset horn obbligato. Marc has also completed the Concerto written for Anton Stadler and his basset clarinet by Franz X. Sussmayr from the remaining sketches of the first movement held in the British Library. From unpublished works by Sussmayr, Marc arranged a central slow movement and a final Rondo to make a complete performable concerto until such time as the original complete manuscript is rediscovered. Marc continues to champion the basset clarinet and became involved with a competition to encourage modern composers to write new concert works for this instrument. This resulted in many works being produced several of which won their categories and have subsequently received further performances.

Marc continues to research the work of Anton Stadler as well as investigating the possible hiding places of the works that he was given by Mozart and Sussmayr prior to the five year recital tour he undertook. It was this tour that resulted in Stadler "losing" (or, if you believe Constanza Mozart's explanation that Stadler pawned the music and his instruments). He hopes that one day he will discover at least one of the missing manuscripts!