Abigail Burrows
Abigail Burrows is an internationally renowned flautist and educator. Originally from Milton Keynes, Abbie began learning the flute aged 7 and within a year was offered a place at the Purcell School of Music (where she is now a flute teacher). She studied there for nine years with Anna Pope and was awarded one of the schools most prestigious scholarships. She had a busy performing schedule from a very early age and was invited to play for HRH Prince of Wales in a private concert at St James's Palace aged 12 and made her concerto debut at London’s Royal Festival Hall aged 14. She continued her education at the Royal College of Music with Susan Milan and studied privately with Michael Cox and Robert Winn..
As a soloist and chamber musician she has performed extensively throughout the UK, playing at concert venues including The Southbank, Wigmore Hall, The Anvil, Cadogan Hall, LSO St Luke's, Birmingham Symphony Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Bridgewater Hall, as well as internationally throughout Europe, Africa, Australia and the U.S. Career highlights include playing the solo flute part of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no.5 with The Philharmonia Orchestra (Klosters, Switzerland), recitals and concertos in Russia (soloist with the Novgorod Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonic Hall), concerts in Germany (guest solo artist with the New English Singers, performing Bach Sonatas in Hallé, Dresden, Berlin and Bach’s Thomas Kirche in Leipzig), and she has been a guest artist at a Jethro Tull concert at The Barbican, performing a solo slot and a duet with the legendary rock-flautist, Ian Anderson. In 2017-18, Abbie is an invited Guest Artist at the National Flute Association Convention (Orlando, Florida), Adams International Flute Festival (Netherlands), Australian Flute Festival (Brisbane), Aflaup Festival (Porto, Portugal), Polish Flute Festival (Katowice), Spanish Flute Convention (Valencia), and will make her 10th appearance as a soloist with the Cornerstone Chamber Orchestra in her hometown as part of the '50 Years of Milton Keynes' celebrations.
As a Concordia International Artist and Ambassador, Abbie performs in concerts throughout London and abroad and also runs a series of their outreach projects. In 2011 she travelled to Nairobi with Concordia for the Lord Mayor of London's official visit, giving concerts at the Braeburn Theatre, Muthaiga Country Club, and British High Commission, as well as running workshops in schools and orphanages. She has also played for the Royal Family at St James's Palace, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, and to the Prime Minister and Mayor of London at Southwark Cathedral.
Abbie freelances for several orchestras and west-end shows and was the flautist on the UK & Ireland Tours of Wicked and The King and I. In 2017 she spent the summer playing in Fiddler on the Roof at Chichester Festival and is currently working on Pinocchio at the National Theatre. She has worked in many of London's recording studios, appeared on film and television, and spent two years playing with a chamber-folk band, performing at music festivals including Latitude and Glastonbury.
Abbie is proud to be a Haynes Artist, playing on a custom-made gold flute, and is generously supported by the Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust. She lives in London with her husband and fellow flautist, Gareth McLearnon.
Thanks to the support of the Wm. S. Haynes Co
