Musical Director
The
celebrated Viola player, Alan George has been Musical Director at the Academy
of St Olave's since September 2009.
Alan is one of the founder members of the world famous Fitzwilliam String Quartet, and a former Musical Director of the University of York Chamber Orchestra.
Alan is the author of three studies of Shostakovich’s chamber music as well as numerous articles and programme notes; he has also presented talks on BBC radio and at various festivals and concert venues throughout Britain and America. He has been tutor in viola at the Royal Northern College of Music, and visiting lecturer/examiner at many colleges and universities both in the UK and abroad. In 1981 he was made an Honorary Doctor of Music at Bucknell University, USA, and similarly honoured by the University of York in 2006.
"St Olave's Church has always been a special place for me" says Alan, "not only because it is just around the corner from my house in Bootham Terrace, but also because it was the venue for a memorial concert for my daughter Jessica, one year after she died in 1994. The Fitzwilliam has also played there many times, but it will be a pleasure and a challenge to try to bring to the orchestra some of the fantastic experience gained from a lifetime of music making - not only with the quartet, but with some of the world's greatest musicians and teachers. I think we are going to have a great time together!"
To read more about this exciting appointment, download the press release.