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Music On The Edge

Music on the Edge explores the work of two Dartmoor based musicians: Susie Hodder-Williams and Chris Caldwell.

The music presented here is fresh and experimental, residing at the edge of folk, classical and jazz and beyond.

Their joint CD Mariner's Way has been heard on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction, ABC Australia, Phonic FM, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Lancs and beyond. Reviews can be seen on the website listed below.

Susie Hodder-Williams was born in Kent and studied English at the University of York and the flute at the Royal Northern College of Music. Her love of music ranges from the more traditional classical repertoire to contemporary music and techniques; the use of breath, so unique to the flute, Japanese contemporary music, and, enthused by the landscape of Dartmoor, how music connects with the land and how the flute has been used in folklore.

She studied energy medicine at the Lakeland College and is inspired by how music is used and can be developed in the world of healing. She recently recorded a series of CDs exploring the two worlds: The Tao of Homeopathy (FMR CD 312) a reading read by the author, Ian Watson, underpinned by soundscapes created by Susie Hodder-Williams, will be launched in the summer of 2011 and a CD inspired by the Alaskan Essence Research Project will be released in 2012.

Concert tours have brought her to the Far East, Europe, around the UK and more recently to the US. She has performed with the London Mozart Players, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Concert Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, New London Sinfonia and the English National Ballet. Later this month she is touring with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

She has broadcasted on BBC Radio 3, both as a chamber and orchestral musician, played at the BBC Proms and recorded several contemporary and chamber CDs for FMR records. Her new recording, Mariner's Way (FMR CD 291), was launched in September 2010 , at the Greenaway Barn Gallery as part of the Devon Open Studios. May 2011 sees the launch of the CD Northern Lights (FMR CD 303) featuring the music of Steve Goss, including two commissions written for her: Northern Lights (which received its first performance in Throwleigh St Mary's Church in September of 2010 - with Chris Caldwell on clarinet/saxes and Graham Roberts on guitar) and The Sea Of The Edge - written for solo flute (which received its first performance at the Guildford International Festival in March 2011)

Chris graduated from the Guildhall School Of Music & Drama in 1986 having studied with Stephen Trier. As a performer he's been involved with some of Britain's leading contemporary composers and ensembles including The Mike Westbrook Orchestra, BCMG, Steve Martland Band, London Saxophonic, Michael Nyman Band, Moondog and The Delta Saxophone Quartet.

Chris has also performed with many of the UK's leading orchestras including the ROH, BBC Symphony Orchestra, RPO, LSO, CBSO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia. He has worked in the West End for the last fifteen years playing in many productions including Les Miserables, Cats, Chicago, Follies, City Of Angels, Guys and Dolls and La Cage aux Folles.

His commercial work has seen International tours with the Shirley Bassey Orchestra in Russia, Lebanon, Turkey, Cairo and the UK plus tours of Asia, Japan and Europe with the Michael Nyman Band, Grahamophones, and for a variety of theatre groups.

Since 2009, Chris has been exploring and developing a new area of improvisations and compositions with Susie Hodder-Williams, inspired by the natural history of Dartmoor. The Mariner's Way CD is the first result of this fruitful partnership which was launched at the Greenaway Barn Gallery as part of the Devon Open Studios in September 2010. He joined Susie Hodder-Williams and Graham Roberts on the album Northern Lights (FMR CD 303) which will be available from May 2011.

He has set up a performance series, in Devon, called Music on the Edge which has found its first home in the engaging Long Room, Drewsteignton and has now branched out to the Art Room, Topsham.

View my website http://www.musicontheedge.com/