My gurus

Clive Wilson
Clive, founder of the Harrogate International Festival (HIF) in 1966, was a brilliant creative arts administrator with wonderfully eclectic tastes in music and literature. Single-minded in his mission to strive for the best, he instilled in me the values of never tolerating second rate. Clive’s day job running the Yorkshire Cancer Campaign satisfied his passion for good food and wines, as we met up for regular ‘working’ lunches. We devoted our time to revelling in Harrogate’s musical history, the mysteries of programming, or discussing the latest CD releases.

Philip Jones
Philip Jones was the undisputed hero of every brass player. He and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble were gods to me, as a student. He performed regularly at the Festival and became a good friend, eager to share his enthusiasm for brass music. I shall never forget the wise counsel and encouragement he gave me when I became Director of HIF on Clive’s sudden death. Philip and his wife Ursula were generous hosts: I remember with affection attending the Lucerne Festival and being invited to their house over the lake for lunch, followed by a recital by Philip on his alphorn collection.

Geoff Whitham
Geoff Whitham was a legendary euphonium player with the Black Dyke Mills Band. I was lucky to have him as my euphonium teacher. My first lesson was at the Hammond Sauce Works when I was met by Geoff’s endearing, if disconcerting Yorkshire welcome: “What’s tha know lad?”, before setting me on a bout of long notes practice and regaling me with his memorable days as a rugby league player. The connection continues as Nick Childs, another of his ‘euph’ students, is now MD of Black Dyke, performing in Harrogate this summer.

Sir Yehudi Menuhin
I got to know Yehudi Menuhin in his later years as a regular visiting conductor and also as Patron of the Festival. I always met him at the airport, bringing him by the longer picturesque route to Harrogate, to show off our beautiful Yorkshire landscape, but also to spend longer conversing with him about the Festival, his latest concerts or young artists he had discovered. We experienced his ability to remain charmingly polite in the most trying situations when our concert hall’s electro-acoustic system played up during one of his concerts, culminating in a loud deafening pop. I rushed back stage to apologise, but he waved it away explaining that he had thought it merely the timpanist playing a wrong note.

Ian Maclay
I have admired Ian, Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, as a consummate music entrepreneur since meeting him in the mid 1980s at the top of the BT Tower. His practical nous, business acumen (especially with sponsors) and ability to cut through the pretensions that occasionally arise with musicians have all been gratefully absorbed. Ian is a brilliant adviser, giving it truthfully, rapidly, in plain English and in a manner which consistently turns out bang on!