Leslie
Craven is currently Principal clarinettist of the Orchestra
of Welsh National Opera and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s
most accomplished and respected clarinettists in every musical genre.
After
many years performing with London’s major orchestras and for
T.V. and film sessions in the major studios, he settled in Wales in 1993
to enjoy a more pleasant lifestyle and to be part of W.N.O. - one of the
world’s leading Opera companies.
He is recognized as one of the foremost teachers of clarinet not only in
U.K. but worldwide and he has written a pedagogical book to help clarinettists
and many articles for magazines and journals both in the U.K. and abroad.
Leslie gives master classes in many notable establishments and consultations
for mouthpieces and lessons in his studio at home. (Leslie’s book – Instant Help
for Playing and Teaching the Clarinet is available from the Book
page as a P.D.F.
file for only £12 - some extracts are downloadable free on the Innovations
page)
![]() (Image for CD cover by kind permission of June Emerson www.JuneEmersonArt.com) |
NEW C.D. RELEASE : “EXPRESSIONS” Clarinet
Classics CC0059 “Craven plays …with a svelte woody sound and fluent technique …we should be grateful to him for introducing us to so much new material and the CD is well worth acquiring by all aspiring recitalists.” John Playfair in Clarinet & Saxophone “Expressions is a CD of a variety of music for clarinet in several settings... the title Expressions is well conceived however because every piece is relaxing and has something to say …every number is worth the effort of listening to… Leslie Craven has a solid sound and although not a young man, one does not hear this in his playing. He sounds like a young virtuoso, a vigorous musician and plays the pieces enthusiastically, and expressively. His sound is warm and focused and his tone has feeling. …he plays on his own design mouthpiece, the `Leslie Craven model Mouthpiece `.” Paul Kaiser in De Klarinet |
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| Also available exclusively from this site, the highly acclaimed “Leslie Craven Model” mouthpiece made to Leslie’s personal specification in U.S.A. by master craftsman Bradford Behn. (See mouthpiece page) | ![]() |
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Do enjoy the visit and make use of Leslie’s expertise – he will answer most clarinet related questions by email and you may leave a message on his guest book if you wish and join his mailing list (at bottom of this page) to get the latest information about events and other news. There are many useful links in the Links pages and events such as the Clarinet Convention at the Royal Welsh College of Music are well documented on the clarinet convention page and also in the gallery.

![[Image: Leslie Craven Model mouthpiece]](images/mouthpiece/mouthpiece269sm.jpg)