Clare Salaman (Merton College 1985) was a multi-instrumentalist, director of The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments and an AHRC-funded PhD researcher at Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Clare played nyckelharpa, hurdy gurdy, baroque violin, viola d’amore, Hardingfele, medieval vielle, accordion and trumpet marine. A music degree at Merton College, University of Oxford and post-graduate study at the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama led to performances, broadcasts and recordings with all the leading period instrument ensembles in the UK including the English Concert, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and St James’ Baroque. Clare had extensive experience as a director and section leader. She guest directed Norwegian baroque orchestra, Barokkarnerne, on numerous occasions.
Clare was founder and director of The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments (SSAI). The ensemble presented music from all sectors of society ranging over centuries on a plethora of unusual instruments, drawing audiences into a previously unimagined world of sound. Invention and risk-taking lie at the heart of the original, often cross-discipline, projects, which have been widely praised for their excellence and ingenuity. ‘SSAI has forged a reputation for being one of our finest exponents of early music. They enchant and amaze in equal measure.' The Musician. Since 2011 SSAI has given over 70 often sold out performances at major festivals and venues, made frequent national radio broadcasts, commissioned five new works, delivered three education projects, and produced two acclaimed CDs. SSAI’s last project, The Trumpet Marine Project was awarded a major grant from Arts Council England. It included 20+ performances, two major education projects, a CD and four new commissions.
Clare taught at the Royal College of Music and the Norwegian Academy of Music, working with students to develop their practice through exploration and improvisation. She appeared frequently on BBC Radio 3 and 4 as interviewee and researched, wrote and presented three programmes for The Early Music Show on BBC Radio 3.