@Shelbourner we used to have a viola player called Glynne Adams who lives in NZ now - we think he is a Kiwi by birth. He was Principal for a couple of years in the late sixties. Also one Clarence Atkinson, a viola player for almost 20 years, we think was a Kiwi. A couple more Australians, but not that many from New Zealand! A couple of Admin staff have been Kiwis, the most recent left only last week!
It refers to Andre Previn's appearance with the LSO on the Morecambe and Wise show in 1977 (I think) - they referred to him as Mr Preview throughout, and it's become something of a famous joke! There's a clip on TH-cam of the segment, just search for it, it's brilliant even now.
Clarence Atkinson was from Dargaville, New Zealand. He left High School ca. 1952 acc. to a classmate of his Graham Smith. Clarence was then a pianist but became a viola player on going to Auckland.
Further to my previous comment: Clarence, according to my informant Graham Smith, was something of a child prodidgy in that he could play by ear any piece of music that he heard. He did not read at that time. He went to Auckland to study further and there took up the viola. This information relies on the memory of a man recalling events of some 60 years ago, and so is open to correction and amplification.
If by this you mean the noun Homo Sapiens ie the only surviving hominid; species to which modern man belongs; bipedal primate having language and ability to make and use complex tools; brain volume at least 1400 cc, then I think we could say yes he is.
@Shelbourner we used to have a viola player called Glynne Adams who lives in NZ now - we think he is a Kiwi by birth. He was Principal for a couple of years in the late sixties. Also one Clarence Atkinson, a viola player for almost 20 years, we think was a Kiwi. A couple more Australians, but not that many from New Zealand! A couple of Admin staff have been Kiwis, the most recent left only last week!
It refers to Andre Previn's appearance with the LSO on the Morecambe and Wise show in 1977 (I think) - they referred to him as Mr Preview throughout, and it's become something of a famous joke! There's a clip on TH-cam of the segment, just search for it, it's brilliant even now.
Clarence Atkinson was from Dargaville, New Zealand. He left High School ca. 1952 acc. to a classmate of his Graham Smith. Clarence was then a pianist but became a viola player on going to Auckland.
Would have been nice to see and hear him playing... but interesting interview, anyway...
Further to my previous comment: Clarence, according to my informant Graham Smith, was something of a child prodidgy in that he could play by ear any piece of music that he heard. He did not read at that time. He went to Auckland to study further and there took up the viola. This information relies on the memory of a man recalling events of some 60 years ago, and so is open to correction and amplification.
Physically can’t believe this man is my godfather
Has he been the only Kiwi ever to join the LSO?
If by this you mean the noun Homo Sapiens ie the only surviving hominid; species to which modern man belongs; bipedal primate having language and ability to make and use complex tools; brain volume at least 1400 cc, then I think we could say yes he is.