JOHN GEORGIADIS

The British violinist a nd conductor John G eorgiadis has died a t the age of 81. As a violinist he is best remembered as the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) from 1965 to 1973, and then from 1977 to 1979. He was also a successful conductor, working with orchestras around the world including three years as music director of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (BSO).

Born in 1939 in Essex, Georgiadis began playing the violin aged six. He learnt with local teacher Vanna Brown before entering London’s Royal Academy of Music, studying with Frederick Grinke. He also spent a year with René Benedetti in Paris. His first appointment as concertmaster was with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1965, when he left to take up the same position at the LSO. In 1972 the London Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble was founded, with Georgiadis as its original concertmaster.