Introducing the string players of the London Symphony Orchestra.
> First Violins
> Second Violins
> Violas
> Cellos
> Double Basses
First Violins
Roman Simovic: Leader |
Carmine Lauri: Co-Leader 'My uncle, who played the violin as an amateur and lived next door to us, used to come and play the violin in my house and at the age of two I used to imitate him playing with just a pair of wooden spoons. That's how it started. I played my first concert with the LSO in September 1993 after finishing my studies at RAM and became a member in 1997. I became the Co-Leader in 2001.' |
Clare Duckworth: Sub-Principal ‘I knew from being a teenager that the sound and repertoire of the symphony orchestra was my greatest love and set off to music college with that career in mind. I remember how glamorous I found the LSO, as well as their coveted branded luggage tags for instrument cases. I was embarrassingly excited when I joined and got my own!’ |
Ginette Decuyper ‘When I was a teenager, my best friend presented me with my first LSO record, The Empire Strikes Back by composer John Williams. From the first bar, I was so bowled over, I just knew that I had to become part of that orchestra one day!’ |
Laura Dixon ‘I started the violin aged nine and always loved playing in my local orchestras. Occasionally I would go to watch concerts at the Barbican Centre which was an amazing experience. It’s great to now be performing at this venue regularly as a member of the LSO!' |
Gerald Gregory ‘Having seen an orchestra playing on TV, I fashioned a ‘violin’ from my two favourite toys – a small guitar and the cue from a mini snooker table. After this improvised noise went on for some months, my parents finally succumbed and purchased a real violin, although the sound probably changed very little!’ |
Maxine Kwok 'My family are huge Star Wars fans, so I was aware of the famous soundtrack from an early age. I like to think it was my destiny to aim high and play in the same orchestra as the recordings I loved as a child. Being part of the Abbey Road recordings for the prequels, conducted by John Williams, brought this home. An unforgettable experience!' |
William Melvin 'My mum got me into music. I was on the LSO String Experience scheme, then a job opened up so I went for it!’ |
Claire Parfitt ‘Coming from a family of professional musicians, we always knew that the LSO was the best. So joining was my aim from a very early age! With its fast working pace, coupled with the camaraderie and brilliance of the members, one can never be bored due to the diversity of work. Plus we see the world!’ |
Elizabeth Pigram 'My mother was an amateur pianist (in fact she won a competition and performed a short concerto with the LSO as a child), hence I began with the piano. The violin was offered in school and by 13, playing Rachmaninoff Symphony No 2 with the Hampshire Youth Orchestra, I had resolved that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.' |
Laurent Quénelle ‘I started the violin at age three as I was obsessed with it. Luckily there was a Suzuki method teacher nearby... I do remember the day I first saw Star Wars in Paris. I asked about that trumpet player and I swore I would play in the LSO one day!’ |
Harriet Rayfield ‘I was fortunate enough to be one of the first LSO String Experience graduates in the 1990s, taken from the Royal Academy initially to ‘experience’ some real rehearsals and concerts with the LSO. I had a wonderful time and was asked if I’d audition for the vacancy in the Second Violin section that year. The rest is history…’ |
Sylvain Vasseur ‘I always wanted to play the violin in an orchestra right from early childhood…’ |
Rhys Watkins ‘My first violin teacher’s daughter was a member of the LSO Violin section. She suggested I did an audition and I actually ended up getting her job after she left!’ |
Second Violins
David Alberman, Principal |
Julián Gil Rodríguez, Principal ‘I come from a big musical family and grew up between rehearsals and instruments. When I was five years old I started playing percussion, then switched six years later to the violin. And here we are!’ |
Thomas Norris, Co-Principal |
Sarah Quinn, Sub-Principal ‘I was lucky enough to be awarded a place on the LSO String Experience scheme while studying at the Royal College of Music. I had always wanted to join an orchestra and from the first moment of my first rehearsal I knew it had to be the LSO!’ |
Miya Väisänen ‘Music was around me from day one. My father was Principal Second Violin in the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and my mother teaches the violin and viola. I have two younger brothers who are also both professional musicians.’ |
David Ballesteros ‘A long time ago I was asked last minute to join a string quartet touring in Spain. The cellist was Tim Hugh, who was Principal Cello of the LSO for many years. He told me I should audition for the LSO so I did!’ |
Matthew Gardner ‘LSO recordings with Previn and of the Star Wars soundtracks were a part of my childhood. I was drawn to the power of the Orchestra’s sound, and it always seemed like such a classy outfit. When I decided I wanted to be a violinist, I wanted to be an orchestral violinist, and the LSO was always my aspiration.’ |
Naoko Keatley ‘I started playing piano aged two in Japan, and when I moved to Australia at the age of four started learning the violin using the Suzuki method.’ |
Alix Lagasse ‘I started the violin at the age of three with the Suzuki method, following in the footsteps of my elder sister. My violin teacher tells me he would put me on top of the living room table during my lessons in order not to break his back while teaching me as I was so small! My first violin was a well put together biscuit box with a ruler as the fingerboard, and a wooden spatula as my bow!’ |
Belinda McFarlane 'At primary school it was announced that if anyone would like to learn an instrument they should go to the library at lunchtime – so I did. I was asked if I would like to play a cello or a violin. I walked half a mile to school, so lazily chose the violin. I loved it from the very first lesson.' |
Iwona Muszynska |
Csilla Pogany |
Andrew Pollock 'The first time I played in a full-sized symphony orchestra was with the Manchester Schools Orchestra aged ten, and it was a revelatory experience. I'll never forget the excitement of being an integral part of such amazing music – Così Fan Tutte Overture and Smetana's Vltava in that first rehearsal.' |
Paul Robson ‘Although keen to play the trumpet, at twelve years old I volunteered to take up the violin due to a shortage of violinists in the school orchestra!’ |
Louise Shackelton ‘I started to play the violin at age seven. After I moved with my parents to the US when I was eleven, I always wanted to come back to live and play in the UK. The LSO was always my dream job.’ |
Violas
Edward Vanderspar, Principal |
Gillianne Haddow, Co-Principal ‘As a post-graduate student at the Royal Academy in 1995, I was selected for the LSO String Experience scheme. From that moment on, I knew that if I were to be in an orchestra, it would have to be the LSO. I was so startled by the incredible standard of the players, their dedication to the music and the variety of work which the Orchestra undertakes.’ |
Malcolm Johnston, Sub-Principal 'As both of my parents were classical musicians, I was deeply immersed in music from a very early age. Growing up in Aberdeen I remember attending the many concerts given by the LSO there as part of their Shell LSO Tour. I had never heard such energy and commitment. This was the moment when the LSO became part of my life.’ |
Germán Clavijo ‘I was introduced to much music as a child, not only classical, but also tango and a lot of folk music. I think by the age of twelve it was very clear in my mind that music was my greatest passion in life.’ |
Steve Doman 'I first played with the LSO as part of the String Experience scheme when I was at college. After that, I was a regular freelance player for a few years before joining as a member of the Viola section in 2018.' |
Carol Ella 'My class in primary school took a test to determine the ‘musical ones’. There was a prize of violin lessons. I recall listening to the cassette in fear, trying to figure out how many notes were in whichever chord. I’m pretty sure I copied my friend Roddy’s answers. Sorry Roddy, and thanks!' |
Lander Echevarría |
Anna Bastow ‘I first discovered my love of music aged five when my family moved next door to a violin teacher. I remember spending a lot of time sitting on the doorstep listening to the violin lessons next door until I was allowed to start learning myself.’ |
Julia O'Riordan |
Sofia Silva Sousa ‘I started learning music aged six in my hometown’s music school. What a journey it has been, and still there is more to learn, discover and share! I guess that hard work and passion for music have brought me here. But equally important was finding in the viola a voice of my own, a way of connecting with others and myself.’ |
Robert Turner ‘One day when I was about eight years old, in assembly at my state primary school, the headteacher announced that there was going to be a violin teacher coming in once a week, and asked if anyone wanted to learn the violin. Although I was rather shy, I found myself putting my hand up and became a member of a class of eight or so budding violinists. The teacher was inspirational and I was hooked!’ |
Cellos
Rebecca Gilliver, Principal ‘As a very stubborn four-year-old, I heard a cello in a Dorset schools concert and left determined that that was what I was going to do. Pestering took about three years, but late one night I was called downstairs and there stood my godfather who’d bought me a cello. I had a go right away, dressed in slippers and pyjamas!’ |
Alastair Blayden, Sub-Principal |
Jennifer Brown |
Noël Bradshaw ‘I took up cello entirely by mistake! When asked at school if I wanted to play an instrument, I responded, having just seen a trombonist on TV, that I would like to play a ‘blowing instrument’. Thinking I had said ‘bowing instrument’, my music teacher suggested cello. She was a somewhat fierce woman and I didn’t dare correct her!’ |
Eve-Marie Caravassilis ‘When I was a chamber musician, I would spend my evenings with friends watching movies and listening to the soundtracks. When one of them told me about the LSO auditions, knowing I had been a huge admirer for years, my first thought was that I couldn't dream of it. But I wouldn't forgive myself if I didn't give it a try…’ |
Daniel Gardner |
Amanda Truelove ‘I auditioned for the LSO after studying in Germany and thereafter played as a freelance player with the LSO for 20 years before becoming a member. Having hugely enjoyed the musical variety that freelance playing enabled, it became a suitable time to find depth of involvement in the LSO.’ |
Laure Le Dantec ‘I started playing the cello at the age of eight in Paris. After a few years studying in Amsterdam and Berlin I feel very fortunate to be in this wonderful city and Orchestra!' |
Double Basses
Patrick Laurence 'I’m not the first professional musician in my family. Therefore music just seemed the natural path to follow. Fortunately for me that path led to the LSO! For that, I’m extremely grateful.' |
Matthew Gibson 'Coming from such an incredibly musical family, it was inevitable that I would play a musical instrument. But which one? My piano teacher fell asleep on the stool next to me in every lesson. My cello teacher uttered the words 'you are a terrible cellist'. It was when my bass teacher came out with 'and I also work at the signalling box at Shrewsbury Station' that I knew I was on to something … The rest was easy.' |
Tom Goodman ‘I started the bass with Haringey music service aged eleven and moved to the Royal College of Music Junior Department when I was twelve to study cello and bass. I’d always wanted to join the LSO having been a crazy Star Wars fan as a child.’ |
Joe Melvin |
Jani Pensola |
José Moreira ‘The LSO has, for a long time, been my dream orchestra. It all started when I discovered Rinat Ibragimov for the first time and found out he was Principal of the LSO. I was accepted onto the LSO String Experience scheme in 2016 and started to freelance with them. In 2018 I applied for a position and here I am, a dream come true.’ |
