Charles Draper

Who was Charles Draper?

Charles Draper was a British classical clarinetist, sometimes described as the grandfather of English clarinetists.

Draper was born in Odcombe, Somerset. He came from a musical family, his father and brother, having been cellists and clarinetists, respectively. In 1888, he studied with Henry Lazarus, and he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he continued as a student of Lazarus until the latter's retirement. He also studied for a year under Julian Egerton. He premiered Stanford's Clarinet Concerto in 1903 with the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra. Stanford's Clarinet Sonata was also dedicated to Draper. Draper was also a notable teacher, teaching at the Royal College of Music, Trinity College of Music, and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and counting Frederick Thurston among his students. His son, Paul Beaumont Draper, was also an accomplished bassoonist. Draper died in Surbiton, aged 82.