Norman Nelson

Nelson, Norman

Nelson, (Richard) Norman. Violinist, b Dublin 1 Aug 1931. He studied 1945-51 with George Strattan at the RCM and with Sascha Lasserson, a pupil of Leopold Auer. Nelson joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1951 and the Sadler's Wells orchestra in 1952. He was assistant concertmaster of the London SO 1956-7 and 1959-62, the London Philharmonic Orchestra 1957-9, and the BBC SO 1962-5.

Nelson served 1965-73 as concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and 1966-72 and in 1976 as concertmaster and director of the Baroque Strings of Vancouver. He has appeared often in recital and as soloist with orchestras in England and Canada. He founded and served 1968-79 as first violin of the Purcell String Quartet and founded in 1973 and directed until 1979 the Academy Strings, an ensemble for advanced students at the Community Music School of Greater Vancouver (Vancouver Academy of Music). In 1979 he joined the Dept of Music at the University of Alberta and became first violin with the University of Alberta String Quartet. In 1982 Nelson toured Japan and China and went to Hong Kong under the aegis of Alberta Culture. In 1985 he became concertmaster of the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, with which he has also appeared as soloist. In 1986 he became conductor of the University of Alberta Chamber Orchestra and toured with it in England, Italy, France, and Spain in 1988 and 1990.

Nelson has recorded as soloist with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, of which he was an original member.