Our Musicians

Leader

Member since 2023

Leader

Member since 2023

Leader

Member since 2010, Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Playing a Stradivari violin kindly loaned by Jonathan Moulds

Co-Leader

Member since 1997, Visiting Professor at the Royal Academy of Music, Playing a Stradivari violin kindly loaned by Anna Goldman FV, Chair endowed in loving memory of the conductor Yuri Ahronovitch by his wife, Tami

‘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.’

First Violin

Member since 2014

‘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!’

First Violin

Member since 1994

‘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!’

First Violin

Member since 2018

‘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!’

First Violin, Vice-Chair of the Board

Member since 2001

‘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!’

First Violin

Member since 2014

‘My mum got me into music. I was on the LSO String Experience scheme, then a job opened up so I went for it!’

First Violin 

Member since 2023

‘I started playing the violin at five years old after becoming obsessed with Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.’

First Violin

Member since 1988

‘At home we always joked when the phone rang, ‘it’s the LSO’. One day it was! My first and last job – each day is so different.’

First Violin

Member since 1988

‘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.’

First Violin

Member since 1997, Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘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!’

First Violin, Board Member

Member since 1995

‘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 …’

First Violin

Member since 1992

‘I always wanted to play the violin in an orchestra right from early childhood.’

Principal Second Violin

Member since 2013

‘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!’

Co-Principal Second Violin

Member since 1998

Sub-Principal Second Violin, Chair of the Board

Member since 1998

‘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!’

Second Violin

Member since 2005

‘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.’

Second Violin

Member since 2000

‘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!’

Second Violin

Member since 1996

‘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.’

Second Violin

Member since 2014

‘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.’

Second Violin

Member since 2019, Professor at the Royal College of Music Junior Department

‘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!’

Second Violin

Member since 1991

‘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.’

Second Violin

Member since 2008

Second Violin

Member since 2019

Second Violin

Member since 1984

‘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.’

Second Violin

Member since 1991

‘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!’

Second Violin

Member since 2001

‘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.’

Principal Viola

Member since 2024; Professor at the Royal College of Music

Co-Principal Viola

Member since 1999

‘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.’

Sub-Principal Viola

Member since 1996, Professor at Trinity Laban

‘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.’

Viola

Member since 2011

‘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.’

Viola

Member since 2023

Viola

Member since 2009, Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘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.’

Viola, Board Member

Member since 2018

‘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.’

Viola

Member since 2014

Viola

Member since 2020

‘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.’

Viola

Member since 1994

‘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!’

Viola

Member since 2023

‘I still remember asking my parents for months and months to play the violin because I saw the final scene in Disney’s Three Little Pigs.’

Principal Cello

Member since 2021; Professor at Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Mons, Belgium, and Trinity Laban, London; Chair endowed by the LSO Friends

‘I could not imagine my life without playing the cello now. I am the first musician in my family to be a soloist and I thank my grandmother every time I am on stage. It’s the only place where I have always felt completely at home.’

Principal Cello

Member since 2001; Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘As a very stubborn four year old, I heard a cello in the Dorset Schools Orchestra and left the concert determined that that was what I was going to do. Pester power took about three years, but finally, 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!’

Co-Principal Cello

Member since 2019

‘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!’

Sub-Principal Cello

Member since 1997, Professor at the Royal College of Music

Cello

Member since 2024

Cello

Member since 2013

‘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 …’

Cello

Member since 2009

Cello, Board Member

Member since 2007, Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘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.’

Principal Double Bass

Member since 2023; Professor at the Royal College of Music; Chair endowed by the LSO Patrons

Double Bass

Member since 1982

‘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.’

Double Bass

Member since 2001, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘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.’

Double Bass

Member since 2024

‘Initially I wanted to play the clarinet in my school orchestra, but due to my height, I ended up playing the double bass. The turning point came when I met my first teacher, Hyunmin Jang, who truly changed my life.’

Double Bass

Member since 2014

Double Bass

Member since 2009

Principal Flute

Member since 2000; Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Chair endowed in memory of Manja Leigh

‘I saw Solti conduct the LSO when I was at college in 1992: Mozart’s ‘Haffner’ Symphony and Maher Symphony No 5. It was breathtaking. I knew then that I simply had to play in this extraordinary group of musicians.’

Flute

Member since 2024

Principal Piccolo

Member since 2001

‘Having wanted to learn an instrument at school, after chime bars, the only option was the violin. My parents thought ‘we can’t face that scratching sound, how about the flute?’ (James Galway was at number one in the charts). I was very small and the teacher started me on piccolo, not the flute – so it wasn’t much better for their ears!’

Principal Oboe

Member since 2018; Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘I‘ll never forget the first rehearsal I was invited to play with the LSO – getting immersed in that sound was like a drug that immediately got me hooked. The day they offered me the job, I couldn’t believe my luck and just kept asking them if they were really sure…’

Principal Oboe

Member since 2015, Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘I grew up in a very musical family and had many interests (for a long time I contemplated scientific studies), yet music always moved me on a deeper level. When I got my trial in the LSO, I was struck by the awesome level in the first rehearsal, the buzz was incredible. Since then, it continues to be a very exciting adventure.’

Oboe

Member since 2016, Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘I was lucky enough to grow up in an area with a fantastic music service – my school orchestra and our county orchestra were both great! We went on tours, played Mahler symphonies and I thought it was marvellous! So I decided to practice as hard as I could, listen to as much music as possible and see if I could make a living by playing the oboe.’

Principal Clarinet

Member since 2024

Principal Clarinet

Member since 2010, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Mozart’s Gran Partita both drew me to the clarinet, which I began learning aged eight (after an attempt at the violin). I first heard the LSO live in 1994 on a National Youth Orchestra trip to hear the orchestra with Sir Colin Davis and Radu Lupu playing Mozart and Sibelius – a thrilling experience I will never forget!’

Clarinet, Principal E-flat Clarinet

Member since 1998, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘Whilst studying with Nicholas Rodwell, former LSO Principal Clarinet, I attended many LSO concerts. I was inspired particularly by the beautiful woodwind sound, leading me to regard the Orchestra as being the one ensemble in the world that I should aspire to becoming a part of.’

Principal Bassoon

Member since 1999, Chair endowed by Brian & Susan Dickie

‘Having spent many years sawing away on the violin, I decided I’d like to try a wind instrument with a deeper sound, so I chose the bassoon. Little did I know back then that bassoons have the most fabulous position in the orchestra, sitting right in the middle, surrounded by incredible music-making.’

Principal Bassoon, Board Member

Member since 2013; Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘Even before I started to learn an instrument, I was thrilled by the sound of the LSO on my brother’s Star Wars soundtrack record – luckily he didn’t mind me borrowing it …’

Bassoon

Member since 2007, Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘Classical music wasn’t really part of my upbringing, but I remember loving hearing it. A friend played clarinet: rather than waiting for her to finishing practising, I joined the same wind band on clarinet (the waiting list for saxophone was too long). A year and lots of begging my parents later, I bought a bassoon with money earned with weekend and holiday jobs.’

Principal Contrabassoon

Member since 2023; Professor at the Royal College of Music

Principal Horn

Member since 2023, Professor at the Royal College of Music

Principal Horn

Member since 1985; Professor at the Royal College of Music

Horn, Board Member

Member since 2005; Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘Both my parents play the horn (as amateurs – they met playing in the BBC Staff Orchestra in the early 1970s), so it was more a case of choosing which of them was going to start teaching me! I chose my mum, mainly because she favoured the use of the B-flat side of the horn (which generally makes for far quicker progression on the instrument!)’

Horn

Member since 2022; Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘I was never that enthusiastic about playing alone but I remember the first time playing with others – maybe eight or nine kids from my school for an assembly – and it was so much better! It was like a perfect mix of a team sport and a noisy and immersive c​ollective puzzle.’

Principal Trumpet

Member since 2021, Professor at the Royal College of Music

‘I grew up surrounded by music with both my mother and father playing in the local Salvation Army brass band so there was always brass instruments around the house.’

Trumpet

Member since 2024

‘My parents made me take up the recorder aged seven. When I threw that in the bin a year later they finally allowed me to play the trumpet! My dad used to work with a lot of brass players when I was growing up, and going to concerts and listening to them play made me want to do it for a career.’

Trombone

Member since 2023

‘I think what made me want to pursue it as a career was going to hear great brass bands around the country, and listening to what top music-making can sound like. It inspired me to take things further and study at music college.’

Principal Bass Trombone

Member since 2007, Professor at the Royal College of Music

Principal Tuba, Board Member

Member since 2019 | Tutor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Tutor at National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain

‘Like many LSO brass players, my musical life began in local brass bands in the north west of England. My path to becoming an orchestral tuba player was sparked by joining the National Youth Orchestra where we were tutored by my LSO predecessor, Patrick Harrild.’

Principal Timpani

Member since 1988(–90) & 2002 | Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Professor at Trinity Laban

‘I loved pop, rock and jazz music from an early age, playing my mum’s pots and pans (with her knitting needles) from age four. Andre Previn’s Music Night (on BBC) was my introduction to the LSO and during one of the programmes I said to my mum and dad: ‘that’s what I’m going to do one day’!’

Co-Principal Timpani

Member since 2023 | Head of Percussion at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

‘The first symphony orchestra I ever watched was the LSO! They came to my home city of Norwich and our family friend (Jonathan Lipton, former horn player with the LSO) arranged for me to watch the rehearsal. I was transfixed with the timpani and percussion and immediately thought ‘wouldn’t that be an amazing job!’

Principal Percussion

Member since 1990, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘I studied at Chetham’s from age eleven and not long after encountered the LSO for the first time with a BBC André Previn’s Music Night broadcast. I was totally hooked and said there and then: ‘that’s what I want to do and that’s the orchestra I want to do it with’! I’ve been incredibly lucky since then to live my musical dreams.’

Percussion, Vice-Chair of the Board

Member since 1996

‘I was a huge Star Wars fan in the late 70s and on acquiring the Original Soundtrack album and reading on the front ‘Music composed and conducted by John Williams, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra’ I decided that THAT was the orchestra I wanted to play in.’

Co-Principal Percussion

Member since 2012, Professor at the Royal Academy of Music

‘I played as an extra with the Orchestra before auditioning for the job. After a trial procedure I was pleased to be offered the job in May 2012.’

Principal Harp

Member since 1994 | Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘My aunt sang in choirs in North Wales. I went to see The Dream of Gerontius and there wasn’t room for the harp on the stage. I was flabbergasted and realised it was the sound I’d heard on the TV programme Bewitched when I was 16. That was it, I was obsessed.’