John Georgiadis, former LSO leader, dies aged 81

John was born in Southend on Sea and began playing the violin at the age of six, before studying at the Royal Academy of Music. In 1965, at the age of just 26, he became the LSO’s leader.

In 1972, he was a founding member of the London Virtuosi, and was their leader and music director over many years.

As a violinist, John appeared regularly as a concerto soloist and as recitalist both in the concert hall and on record. From 1986 he spent four years as leader of the Gabrieli String Quartet.

To develop a passion for conducting he worked with Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache. Following eight years of training, he travelled all over the world guest conducting orchestras including the Bangkok Symphony and the Malaysian Philharmonic. Closer to home, he worked as music director of the Bristol Sinfonia, was director of orchestral studies at the Royal Academy of Music, and conducted the Essex Youth Orchestra for over a decade.

Watch John's footage from the LSO's tours in the 1960s below: