- • History
- • Conductor's Biography
- • Leader's Biography
Conductor
Adrian Brown comes from a distinguished line of pupils of Sir Adrian Boult. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London, he studied with Sir Adrian with whom he worked for some years. He remains the only British conductor to have reached the finals of the Karajan Conductors' Competition and the Berlin Philharmonic was the first professional orchestra he conducted. Sir Adrian said of his work: "He has always impressed me as a musician of exceptional attainments who has all the right gifts and ideas to make him a first class conductor".
He has conducted at the Royal Academy of Music on a number of occasions and worked with their Senior Orchestra. He has been a regular chairman of the jury for the National Association of Youth Orchestras' Conducting Competition. He took the Chair again in January 2006.
2006 included performances of Shostakovitch with Suffolk Sinfonia in St. Edmundsbury Cathedral and LSO St. Lukes; a return to Elgar/Payne Symphony No.3 in a concert of Anthony Payne's work. The climax of the Bromley Season was a stunning Mahler 3rd Symphony. He again joined the Panel for the Making Music Awards. The summer of 2006 saw a Tour to Salzburg for a Mozart Festival with Stoneleigh Youth.
Please note, a fuller overview of Adrian's impressive career to date will be made available later in the year.
Chris Hayward, former conductor of SSO
We were very shocked to hear of the tragic death of our much loved former conductor, Chris Hayward, in a road accident that occurred on Sunday August 12th in Buxton, not far from Sheffield. His wife Helen, who was very seriously injured, and their two young children, who mercifully escaped serious injury, were also present in the family car when it was involved in a head-on collision. Chris was a wonderful person to work with, full of warmth, humanity and generosity in everything he did. His contribution to music in Enfield was unique and his period as conductor of Southgate Symphony Orchestra from 2001-2003 benefited us considerably, both musically and in his unique ability to interact with audiences through his charming personality. Our hearts go out to his parents and to Helen's parents, and we wish Helen a speedy recovery.
