Musician, Author. He began his career as a teacher, but, after playing with a group of professional musicians while on wartime military service, was recommended by them to Sir Thomas Beecham. Beecham asked him to audition and took him on as principal clarinettist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1947. He held the post until 1963 when he left to become a co-principal in the British Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra, later moving on to be a principal in the London Symphony Orchestra. He was the founder of the London Wind Soloists and recorded the complete set of Mozart's music for wind bands with them. He also made recordings of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and was clarinet soloist on the Beatles track "A Day in the Life" on their 1967 album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He was known for his use of vibrato, and is regarded as one of the first woodwind players to make regular use of the technique. He continued to teach, and was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of music and Drama and the Royal Military School of Music. He was also the author of several books, including "From Where I Sit", 1979, and "In the Orchestra", 1987. In addition, he presented a number of radio programmes. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1960.
Musician, Author. He began his career as a teacher, but, after playing with a group of professional musicians while on wartime military service, was recommended by them to Sir Thomas Beecham. Beecham asked him to audition and took him on as principal clarinettist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1947. He held the post until 1963 when he left to become a co-principal in the British Broadcasting Corporation Orchestra, later moving on to be a principal in the London Symphony Orchestra. He was the founder of the London Wind Soloists and recorded the complete set of Mozart's music for wind bands with them. He also made recordings of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and was clarinet soloist on the Beatles track "A Day in the Life" on their 1967 album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He was known for his use of vibrato, and is regarded as one of the first woodwind players to make regular use of the technique. He continued to teach, and was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of music and Drama and the Royal Military School of Music. He was also the author of several books, including "From Where I Sit", 1979, and "In the Orchestra", 1987. In addition, he presented a number of radio programmes. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1960.
Bio by: js
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
