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Press Releases
New Principal Guest Leader One of Four Orchestral Appointments for RSNO
The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) has appointed the internationally respected violinist James Clark as its Principal Guest Leader. The Orchestra also welcomes the arrival of three new members to its ranks: David Chivers (Assistant Principal Violin), Alan John (Violin) and Geneviève Martineau (Violin).
RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods: “This is a really significant announcement for the RSNO. James is a superb musician and his leadership will be enormously valuable to the RSNO. I’m especially pleased that he will play a role in our future audition and appointment process, allowing us to benefit from his immense experience in the orchestral world. I’d also like to extend the warmest of welcomes to David, Alan and Geneviéve, all three of whom are very strong musicians who have come through the audition and trial process with flying colours. We are delighted that they will join us in the coming months.”
The search for another Leader to complement the appointment of James Clark continues, with auditions being held this summer. In the meantime, the Orchestra will benefit immediately from the experience and talent – on-stage and behind-the-scenes - of one of the UK’s finest orchestral musicians.
David Chivers and Alan John will join the RSNO in July in time for the Orchestra’s Edinburgh International Festival appearances. Geneviève Martineau joins for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Monday 6 September, which also sees James Clark’s first appearance with the RSNO as Principal Guest Leader.
RSNO Principal Guest Leader James Clark: “I have enormous affection for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra being Scottish born myself. I have hugely enjoyed the times we’ve worked together in the past - it’s an ensemble with a strong artistic identity and dynamic quality which definitely has the wind in its sails! I am really thrilled and look forward to playing my part in the RSNO’s exciting future. ”
This month also sees the retirement of three long-standing members of the orchestra: Associate Principal Violin Andrew Martin, Associate Principal Cello Jeremy Fletcher and Sub-Principal Cello Lyn Armour. Between them they have accrued 81 years of service to the RSNO.
Simon Woods: “It is always a sad moment when we say goodbye to friends and colleagues who have been part of the RSNO family for so long. Lyn, Jeremy and Andrew have between them accumulated over 80 years of experience. They will be sorely missed by the orchestra and audiences alike, and we wish them all a very happy retirement.”
[ENDS]
For further information please contact Daniel Pollitt, Communications Manager on 0141 225 3571; 07970 009369; Email: daniel.pollitt@rsno.org.uk.
JAMES CLARK
Violin
James Clark’s musical career, spanning over thirty years, encompasses a wide range of accomplishment. Having been a chorister at King’s College Cambridge, he went on to study both singing and violin at the Royal College of Music in London.
In 1981 he was invited by Claudio Abbado to lead the European Youth Orchestra, and subsequently became the first Leader of the newly formed Chamber Orchestra of Europe working with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Solti, Pollini, Barenboim and Abbado.
As a member of the Endellion Quartet and Raphael Ensemble from 1984, chamber music became an increasingly important music activity, with regular radio broadcasts and well-received discs of Brahms and Dvorák Sextets. James has played chamber music with many world class musicians, including Steven Isserlis, Steven Kovacevich, Michael Pletnev, Michael Collins, and Gustav Ravinius and has a continuing partnership with pianist Richard McMahon.
From 1985 to 1990 James Clark was Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and from 1990 to 1998 he took a major role in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s artistic development and high profile as Leader.
Between 1999 and 2010, James was Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra working with Conductors such as Dochnanyi, Muti, Ashkenazy, Svetlanov, Maazel and Salonen.
James is currently Leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also in great demand as guest leader and chamber musician across Britain and Europe, having appeared with the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich as well as with every major symphony orchestra in the UK.
Conducting is an increasingly important part of James’s life. In the last few years, he has conducted the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in several concerts and broadcasts, made his début with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2004, and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. This year, he has returned for a third time to Venezuela to teach, coach and conduct the Simon Bolivar Orchestra at the invitation of Gustavo Dudamel.
Plans for 2010 include concerts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra of Bach Brandenburg and Violin Concertos for broadcast on Classic FM, preparing the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in performances of Berio’s Sinfonia and Lutoslawski’s Concerto for Orchestra, and conducting a series of Childrens’ Concerts in Liverpool with the RLPO.
James’s other musical interests include voluntary educational work in Africa and in Bosnia, where he worked with children directly affected by the war of the early 1990s - he was one of the first musicians to give recitals in Sarajevo and Mostar after the ceasefire.
RSNO Chief Executive Simon Woods: “This is a really significant announcement for the RSNO. James is a superb musician and his leadership will be enormously valuable to the RSNO. I’m especially pleased that he will play a role in our future audition and appointment process, allowing us to benefit from his immense experience in the orchestral world. I’d also like to extend the warmest of welcomes to David, Alan and Geneviéve, all three of whom are very strong musicians who have come through the audition and trial process with flying colours. We are delighted that they will join us in the coming months.”
The search for another Leader to complement the appointment of James Clark continues, with auditions being held this summer. In the meantime, the Orchestra will benefit immediately from the experience and talent – on-stage and behind-the-scenes - of one of the UK’s finest orchestral musicians.
David Chivers and Alan John will join the RSNO in July in time for the Orchestra’s Edinburgh International Festival appearances. Geneviève Martineau joins for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Monday 6 September, which also sees James Clark’s first appearance with the RSNO as Principal Guest Leader.
RSNO Principal Guest Leader James Clark: “I have enormous affection for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra being Scottish born myself. I have hugely enjoyed the times we’ve worked together in the past - it’s an ensemble with a strong artistic identity and dynamic quality which definitely has the wind in its sails! I am really thrilled and look forward to playing my part in the RSNO’s exciting future. ”
This month also sees the retirement of three long-standing members of the orchestra: Associate Principal Violin Andrew Martin, Associate Principal Cello Jeremy Fletcher and Sub-Principal Cello Lyn Armour. Between them they have accrued 81 years of service to the RSNO.
Simon Woods: “It is always a sad moment when we say goodbye to friends and colleagues who have been part of the RSNO family for so long. Lyn, Jeremy and Andrew have between them accumulated over 80 years of experience. They will be sorely missed by the orchestra and audiences alike, and we wish them all a very happy retirement.”
[ENDS]
For further information please contact Daniel Pollitt, Communications Manager on 0141 225 3571; 07970 009369; Email: daniel.pollitt@rsno.org.uk.
JAMES CLARK
Violin
James Clark’s musical career, spanning over thirty years, encompasses a wide range of accomplishment. Having been a chorister at King’s College Cambridge, he went on to study both singing and violin at the Royal College of Music in London.
In 1981 he was invited by Claudio Abbado to lead the European Youth Orchestra, and subsequently became the first Leader of the newly formed Chamber Orchestra of Europe working with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Solti, Pollini, Barenboim and Abbado.
As a member of the Endellion Quartet and Raphael Ensemble from 1984, chamber music became an increasingly important music activity, with regular radio broadcasts and well-received discs of Brahms and Dvorák Sextets. James has played chamber music with many world class musicians, including Steven Isserlis, Steven Kovacevich, Michael Pletnev, Michael Collins, and Gustav Ravinius and has a continuing partnership with pianist Richard McMahon.
From 1985 to 1990 James Clark was Leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and from 1990 to 1998 he took a major role in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s artistic development and high profile as Leader.
Between 1999 and 2010, James was Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra working with Conductors such as Dochnanyi, Muti, Ashkenazy, Svetlanov, Maazel and Salonen.
James is currently Leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also in great demand as guest leader and chamber musician across Britain and Europe, having appeared with the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich as well as with every major symphony orchestra in the UK.
Conducting is an increasingly important part of James’s life. In the last few years, he has conducted the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in several concerts and broadcasts, made his début with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2004, and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. This year, he has returned for a third time to Venezuela to teach, coach and conduct the Simon Bolivar Orchestra at the invitation of Gustavo Dudamel.
Plans for 2010 include concerts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra of Bach Brandenburg and Violin Concertos for broadcast on Classic FM, preparing the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in performances of Berio’s Sinfonia and Lutoslawski’s Concerto for Orchestra, and conducting a series of Childrens’ Concerts in Liverpool with the RLPO.
James’s other musical interests include voluntary educational work in Africa and in Bosnia, where he worked with children directly affected by the war of the early 1990s - he was one of the first musicians to give recitals in Sarajevo and Mostar after the ceasefire.
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