Obituary: John Gould, 1940–2023

John Gould was Principal Viola from 1963 to 1966. He died in Australia in November 2023 aged 83. 

John spent his youth in England before his family emigrated to Australia in 1954.  At the age of 18 he was a violinist with both the Sydney and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras.  He returned to the UK in the early 1960s and toured with the LSO on its first World Tour in 1964. Back in Australia in the late 1960s, he became a string teacher and Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium in New South Wales. During his retirement in Canberra, John decided that he wanted to create an orchestra for amateur musicians, and the Maruki Community and Junior Orchestras were born. On 3 December, Maruki honoured him at its summer concert at the Albert Hall, Australian Capital Territory. 

We extend our condolences to John’s family and friends.