A note from Lily

I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive the RPS Isserlis Scholarship in support of my Master’s degree at the Lübeck Academy of Music. Studying abroad has long been a dream of mine, and after visiting Lübeck and meeting Professor Jens Thoben, I knew this was the perfect place for me. The Master’s programme offers the invaluable opportunity to devote myself fully to clarinet performance while immersing myself in the rich cultural life of the city. 

I am especially excited to experience the wide range of opportunities the school and Germany has to offer. Studying clarinet in the German language and becoming part of the school’s vibrant clarinet class will be a rewarding challenge that pushes me to grow as both a musician and a person. Receiving this scholarship allows me to pursue my aspiration of studying in Germany while continuing to perform as a member of the CATIL Quintet in London. 

Biography

Lily Payne began studying the clarinet at the age of seven under the guidance of her mother. In 2014, she joined The Purcell School, where she studied with Joy Farrall and graduated in 2022. Lily then studied with Andrew Marriner at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD) after being awarded direct second year entry. She has performed Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet in Russia as part of the 2019 Moscow Meets Friends International Festival. In 2021, she won first prize in The Purcell School’s Senior Concerto Competition, performing Copland’s Clarinet Concerto at the Cadogan Hall. Lily has also appeared at Wigmore Hall playing Debussy’s Première Rhapsodie. At GSMD, Lily performed as second clarinet alongside Antony McGill in Mozart’s Gran Partita with the Guildhall Wind Soloists. She was also a finalist in the Needlemakers Prize. As part of celebrations for Pierre Boulez's centenary, she performed his Domaines for solo clarinet live on BBC Radio 3. 

Lily has taken part in masterclasses with renowned clarinettists including Karl Leister, Pascal Moragues, and Martin Fröst. She is also a member of the CATIL Wind Quintet performing around the UK. In October 2025, she will begin her master’s studies at the Lübeck Academy of Music with Jens Thoben, supported by the RPS Isserlis Scholarship.

You can keep up to date with Lily's work by following her quintet on Youtube.