Obituary: Brian Clarke 1933-2025

Brian was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, where he began violin lessons at the age of eleven. His was a ‘Billy Elliot’ story in that his poverty-stricken childhood as the son of a coal miner was not typical of someone who would become a world-class musician.

During his National Service he was a member of the Royal Artillery Orchestra (violin) and Marching Band (clarinet), with which he participated in Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation parade. After National Service he attended the Guildhall School of Music. There he studied with Nannie Jamieson, who convinced him to switch to the viola.

While Brian was still a student at the Guildhall, Yehudi Menuhin founded the Bath Festival Orchestra. Brian was invited to become the fourth viola player of the tiny orchestra. Besides playing with the orchestra Brian was able to spend time at Menuhin’s home, discussing the works to be played, as well as bowing techniques and other matters that gave Brian invaluable insights.

At the end of three years at the Guildhall, Brian won a scholarship to study with Max Rostal in Bern, Switzerland.

On Brian’s return to London from Switzerland in 1963 he became a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He played with the LPO for seven years, doing many concerts and tours, as well as seven seasons at Glyndebourne Opera Festival.

In 1970 Brian was invited to join the LSO as Co-Principal Viola. He remained with the Orchestra for nearly thirty years until his retirement.

During his time with the Orchestra he worked with some of the world’s greatest conductors including Andre Previn, Pierre Boulez, Claudio Abbado and Leonard Bernstein, playing a vast number of pieces in the classical repertoire. He also contributed to the soundtracks of several John Williams film scores, among them Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman and E.T.

We send our condolences to Brian’s family, friends and colleagues.