After the very sad passing of our much loved and sorely missed founder conductor and President, Mr Jeff Lloyd, BEM, we are very proud to announce that our new President is the BBC National Orchestra of Wales’ ex-Principal 1st Violin, a former pupil of Jeff’s and a Rhondda native, Mr Carl Darby. 

 

Carl started playing violin at age 11 with Jeff Lloyd as his teacher at Porth County Grammar School. He continued his studies with Alfredo Wang and then with Emanuel Hurwitz at Royal Academy of Music in 1978. He won the Theodore Holland prize in his 1st year and also gained his ARCM Hons on the viola! He says he’s never touched the instrument since! 

 

He joined the 1st Violin section of the Welsh National Opera in 1980 and then was appointed Principal 1st Violin with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 1987. He has also played with the BBC Concert Orchestra (Guest Leader), the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia. 

 

He has been a loyal supporter of the Rhondda Symphony Orchestra throughout this professional playing years, often performing concertos with us. Concertos include Bruck Scottish Fantasy, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and Khachaturian Violin Concerto.

 

Outside of music, Carl took up flying and gained PPL/IMC which held for 10 years, but these days he says he is safer on Flight Simulator!! He is also an extremely talented artist. 

 

He is delighted to follow Jeff Lloyd as the RSO’s President and we are equally delighted to have him. Thank you, Carl!