ProfileSaira Clegg

Alto Saxophone

Saira started learning to play the clarinet at the age of 8 and one year later the saxophone. At the age of 12 she began studying both instruments with a scholarship under the Governments Music and Ballet Scheme at The Purcell School of Music. After leaving school she continued onto The Royal College of Music gaining a Foundation Scholarship for Clarinet and Saxophone. She then spent one and a half years studying with Bruce Weinberger in Switzerland, before restarting and completing her Degree and Masters in Darmstadt, Germany with Linda Bangs-Urban.

At the age of 10, Saira performed her first solo saxophone concerto and one year later became the principal clarinetist of the English National Children’s Orchestra. Her last performance with the orchestra, at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester (UK), was recorded for Classic FM radio. In 1999, she won the 'Watford Twin Town' competition resulting in two solo recitals at the Rachmaninoff Festival in Novgorod, Russia. In 2001, Saira played the clarinet for Prince Charles at the UNESCO building, Paris. She won the 'Three Rivers Young Musician' and 'Watford Young Musician of the Year' in 2002. Saira has performed at Buckingham Palace, the Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St. Johns Smith Square and Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Saira performs under her professional name Saira Clegg. She is married to Adam Hall and with their two boys attend Sale Corps.