Welcome to Cirrus
A dynamic clarinet quartet based in the the East Midlands!
Our ensemble takes its name from one of the first pieces we performed together, Blue Skies, symbolizing our passion for creating uplifting and harmonious music.
We are a group of dedicated amateur musicians, each playing a combination of clarinets — E flat, B flat, Alto, and Bass — allowing us to explore a rich and diverse range of musical styles.
Since our formation, we have delighted in sharing our love for music with the community, and we are thrilled to have been invited to perform at the renowned Derby Music Club. This opportunity reflects our commitment to bringing high-quality performances in the East Midlands.
At Cirrus, we believe in the power of music to connect people, inspire creativity, and evoke emotion. Whether we’re playing classic works or contemporary compositions, our goal is to create an unforgettable experience for our listeners.
Join us on our musical journey as we continue to explore new repertoire and share our passion for clarinet music with the world!
For upcoming performances and news, please follow us on our social media channels or get in touch.
We can’t wait to see you at one of our concerts!
Who are we?
Kate Hawkins
Bb Clarinet
Kate has been playing the clarinet since the age of 11 and has been involved in a wide variety of musical groups and ensembles throughout her life. Her musical journey began at the Southeast Derbyshire Music Centre, where she played in the wind band, orchestra, and a clarinet choir. It was here she first tried the bass clarinet, an instrument so large she needed several chairs just to reach it!
As a teenager, Kate was a member of the Derbyshire County Youth Wind Band, performing across the county and touring in Europe. After aging out of the youth band at 18, she joined the Nottingham Symphonic Wind Band, where she was a dedicated member until 2023. During her time there, she performed in numerous concerts around the East Midlands and toured internationally. She also played a key role in the band’s committee, helping to organise concerts – many in support of local and national charities – and took the lead in creating and running the magical “Kidsophonic” concerts. These imaginative Christmas events for children combined storytelling, music education, activities, and a special festive visitor at the end!
In her 40s, Kate expanded her musical interests by learning saxophone and flute and began teaching privately and in schools. In 2009, she co-founded the Blackwood Clarinet Choir, where she continues to serve as Chair and Secretary, as well as a performer. She was also a founding member of Cirrus Clarinet Quartet, and after a short break, is delighted to be playing with the group once again.
Music has always been a huge part of Kate’s life. Each ensemble feels like a different branch of her extended musical family. Through music, she’s made lifelong friends, explored new places, and found joy in sharing performances with audiences of all ages.
Steve Milner
Eb, Bb and Alto Clarinet
Steve is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon based at Royal Derby Hospital who spends his working days fixing broken bones and painful feet. In his spare time he is a keen amateur musician.
He grew up in Ipswich in a family whose interest in music surpassed their musical abilities. His father could just about play an out-of-tune version of ‘Marche Militaire’ on the violin, and his mother was allegedly sacked by her piano teacher. Nevertheless when introduced to the recorder aged 8, Steve picked it up very quickly. He transitioned on to the clarinet aged 9 because that seemed to be the easy option as there was a clarinet teacher who came to his primary school. Much to everyone’s surprise he moved quite quickly through his grade exams over the next few years by doing just enough practice, achieving grade 8 aged 14. Although he stopped having clarinet lessons aged 16, he continued orchestral playing whilst studying for science A-levels, securing a place in the county youth orchestra and being selected to perform a clarinet concerto with his school orchestra.
After medical school Steve moved to the East Midlands and has stayed there ever since. Music has remained his main spare time activity, playing the clarinet regularly with Nottingham Symphony Orchestra and by invitation with other amateur orchestras in the East Midlands. He joined Blackwood Clarinets around 2015, which provided opportunities to develop his playing in a wider range of musical styles, as well as playing the Alto and E-flat clarinets. He was delighted to be asked to join the Cirrus Quartet, giving him the chance to play several of the instruments in his clarinet collection. He has arranged a number of pieces for the quartet, some of which you will hear in this concert.
When he isn’t engaged in musical activities, Steve will often be found in the garden or undertaking over-ambitious DIY projects at home.
Adam Blakey
Bb Clarinet
Adam began playing the clarinet aged 8 in his hometown of North Shields. When he started high school, he also took up piano and electric guitar — drawn to what he thought were the “cooler” instruments. However, after switching schools for his A-levels, he met a new clarinet teacher who encouraged him to work towards his Grade 8 exam and helped him rediscover just how incredible (and yes, cool) the clarinet could be. Alongside his school studies, he attended the North Tyneside Concert Band, was a member of the Klarinos Clarinet Quintet, and regularly performed in pit orchestras for amateur theatre productions across the North East.
After finishing A-levels in 2016, Adam moved to Nottingham to start a degree in mathematics. He was very excited that the University of Nottingham had a very active music department he could get involved with, despite not studying music as a degree. During a semester abroad at the National University of Singapore, he continued playing by joining two orchestras. Back in Nottingham, he was heavily involved in the student-run society ‘Blowsoc’, which consumed most Wednesdays with non-stop rehearsals from 13:00 to 21:30! As life grew busier during his second degree, Adam decided to bookend his university musical journey by performing a clarinet concerto with the University of Nottingham Wind Orchestra in 2022.
Outside the university, Adam has been a member of Nottingham Symphonic Winds since 2019 and joined Blackwood Clarinet Choir in 2021. He achieved his ARSM diploma in clarinet performance in 2023. He is really pleased to be part of Cirrus Clarinet Quartet and to play alongside three wonderful friends.
Beyond music, Adam lives in Nottingham with his partner Eleanor and their dog, Pip. He works in software development and frequently lends his finger-tapping skills to support local charities with website and tech support. He also maintains an active role volunteering at 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts.
Phil Smith
Bass Clarinet
Phil’s musical journey began at the age of 6 when a teacher he’d never seen before came into the classroom asking if anyone would like to learn the recorder. Thinking she must be referring to the school’s state-of-the-art tape recorder, he stuck his hand up immediately. There was inevitably a brief period of disappointment when the beige plastic tube arrived a couple of weeks later, but that schoolboy error now turns out to have been a very fortunate one.
Unexpected success with the recorder lead to the offer of free clarinet lessons. From then on, playing the clarinet became a significant part of Phil’s life. He played in the Southampton Youth Orchestra and became principal clarinet in the Southampton Wind Band. At home and on trips abroad, the wind band provided many valuable life lessons, such as how to open a bottle of wine without the aid of a corkscrew. So prepared, Phil headed off to the University of Nottingham to study, of course, Computer Science.
But university still afforded plenty of opportunities to play in orchestras and smaller groups, and to make lasting musical friendships when not studying. And music is now a valuable antidote to working life.
Over the last 15 years or so, Phil has concentrated on the fabulous instrument that is the bass clarinet. He plays regularly with Blackwood Clarinets, Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra, Nottingham Symphony Orchestra and was a founder member of Cirrus Clarinet Quartet. Rehearsing with good friends is great fun, a good performance very satisfying.
If there’s any spare time, Phil enjoys long walks in the countryside and short walks between pubs.