Civil Servant

I joined BPO in January 1993 when I moved to Birmingham

I started having music lessons at primary school through Worcestershire music service but I’m not entirely sure how I ended up playing the violin, although there is a family tradition of playing in orchestras. 

My great-great-grandfather, William Griffin, played the violin and viola in various Birmingham orchestras under the baton of W. C. Stockley (performing alongside Edward Elgar) and Sir Thomas Beecham etc., in the late 19th- and early 20th-century, so maybe it’s in my genes.

I previously played with the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra and, when I said I was leaving, their conductor gave me contact details of someone in the BPO so I rang through and got an invitation to a rehearsal. Once I had passed the audition I soon began to enjoy the challenge and rewards of being part of the BPO.

My favourite concert was in 2004 when we played Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) by Shostakovich – a brilliant and emotional piece (some loud bits too!).

We were playing at Walsall Town Hall one very hot summer evening and just before the concert it was announced "no jackets" but I hadn't ironed my concert shirt. I don't think too many people noticed all those creases.

Shostakovich has got to be one of my favourite composers, along with Malcolm Arnold and Beethoven

Before I die/retire I would like to perform Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony again, just to be surrounded once more by the sheer force of sound and music.