RACHAEL Clegg is one of Britain’s busiest freelance oboe players.

With an insatiable passion for playing music she dashes from one end of the country to the other.

"Life can be pretty full on at times," says Manchester-based Rachael. "But being freelance means make hay while the sun shines. I'm lucky that I mostly have lots of work, but with the arts, generally, funding is precarious, so I take nothing for granted."

On Saturday (December 6) the sought after woodwind player takes to the stage of Kendal Leisure Centre's Westmorland Hall, in the spotlight as soloist in the opening concert of the 'wonderful' Westmorland Orchestra's 2014/15 season.

Rachael's party piece will be Mozart’s oboe concerto.

"The orchestra asked me to play it and I was very happy to do it," explains Rachael. "I haven't performed it for a few years. In fact the last time was with my orchestra, Manchester Camerata.

"It's a really youthful, fresh sounding piece, very classical in form but it allows the soloist some freedom to be expressive.

"Last time I was in Kendal was with the Manchester Camerata and we did a really exciting concert with the Italian cellist Giovanni Solima. It was 'flying by the seat of your pants' music."

Born in Colne, Lancashire, Rachael went to school in Nelson where her family still live. She decided to base herself in the north of England after completing her studies at Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music and realised her deep love of chamber music by forming an Oboe Trio while still a student. Besides performances at the Purcell Room in London, they appeared regularly throughout the UK and were active in commissioning new works for the genre by composers, including James MacMillan.

Rachael says she was 11 when she started learning the oboe: "My grandfather played me lots of records and I picked the sound of the instrument I liked best."

From around the age of 15 she wanted to be a professional musician; before that a police woman: "I think I made the right choice for me. Honestly, it was what I excelled at and I loved playing, still do."

Rachael has been principal oboe with Manchester Camerata since 1999 and loves playing with the highly acclaimed outfit: "I feel extremely fortunate to have a job which makes me feel so alive and fulfilled and to work with like minded musicians. I am ever grateful."

During her time with the Camerata, the ensemble has recorded the complete cycle of Beethoven Symphonies to great critical acclaim. And Rachael has also been a frequent soloist with the orchestra, performing concertos by composers such as Mozart and Vaughan Williams. She was also the cor anglais soloist at Bridgewater Hall performing Autumn Legend by Alwyn under the baton of Douglas Boyd.

During recent seasons, Rachael has been invited to perform as principal oboe with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and more recently with the Budapest Festival Orchestra. She has also toured with the internationally renowned John Wilson Orchestra, which specialises in recording contemporary film soundtracks and authentic concert performances of classic film musical scores. Outside the concert hall the orchestra has contributed to soundtrack recordings for films, including The Gathering Storm and in 2007 was nominated for a Grammy Award for best soundtrack for Beyond the Sea, starring Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin.

So which does Rachael prefer orchestral work or recitals?

"I like to do both, playing as a soloist requires a different level of focus. There's no sitting back for a few minutes while someone else has a solo, it's all you. It's quite intense. Orchestral playing is such fun, lots of interacting and such an amazing feeling after a great concert."

As well as performing Rachael has also taught oboe at the revered Chethams school of music for the last 20 years: "After two decades it's still enjoyable.

"Chethams is a wonderful place and I adore teaching there. It is very rewarding as the students are so talented and dedicated. I learn such a lot from them."

Rachael lives in Manchester with her husband Roberto, who is principal double bass in the Halle orchestra, and their two sons.

"My eldest Josef plays trombone and especially likes his brass band. My husband would love our youngest Ruben to sing in choirs as he did as a young boy."

Rachael's favourite composers include Mozart, Bach, Handel, Sibelius, Mahler but finds it "tricky" to name a favourite piece: " I reckon it's the piece I'm playing at any one time. I try to fully immerse myself in the work I 'm performing and play it exactly as the composer would have wanted. But specifically, Mozart makes me smile, Bach makes me cry - in a good way - and I'm partial to a bit of Wagner. However, there are many others."

Before we wind up the interview and Rachael heads off on another musical assignment I ask if she recalls any particular memorable moments on stage?

"My oboe stopped working mid-concert once. I panicked. I swapped with my colleague and she struggled with my broken one, it was horrible.

"And once a conductor threw his baton at me but not on purpose, he was just beating too enthusiastically."

Conducted by Richard Howarth, the Westmorland's performance also includes Dvorak's In Nature's Realm overture and the darkly brooding tenth symphony by Shostakovich.

Tickets via the Brewery Arts Centre box office on 01539-725133 or at the leisure centre door on the night of the concert.