Lawrence Leonard

British conductor, cellist, composer, teacher and writer Lawrence Leonard died on 4 January 2001, aged 77.

Asked by Bernstein to première West Side Story in London, Leonard was also a close friend of cartoonist Gerard Hoffnung, becoming involved, both as conductor and composer, with the notorious South Bank 'Hoffnung Concerts' in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He later toured Hoffnung performances with Annetta Hoffnung.

Lawrence Leonard gave guest performances with all the major UK orchestras and he toured extensively, especially in former East Germany. His arrangement for piano and orchestra of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition has been broadcast internationally.

Known popularly as 'Frankie' (originally to avoid a mix-up with an uncle of the same name, also a professional cellist), he was assistant to Barbirolli and the Hallé orchestra, Professor of Conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and regularly conducted the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra. In the 1980s and 90s, he ran the chamber orchestra, wind group and conducting classes at Morley College, giving selflessly of his time to run a unique weekly practice orchestra for his students.

A memorial concert was given by the Morley Chamber Orchestra in Southwark Cathedral, London, on 15 March 2001.

Information: www.classicalmusicdaily.com/articles/l/l/lawrence-leonard.htm

Posted: 9 March 2001

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