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Gerald Jarvis

Canadian classical violinist & violist, and violin teacher. Born 19 April 1930 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Died 15 January 1996 in Chautauqua, New York, USA. He studied violin in Vancouver (1935-1948) and played in the [a=Vancouver Symphony Orchestra] in 1947. In 1948, he won a scholarship to study at the [l527847]. He remained in England for several years, playing first with the [a=Philharmonia Orchestra], and from 1952 to 1954 with the [a=Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden]. In 1954, he went to Brussels to study, and the same year was concertmaster with [b]Martha Graham's Dance Company Orchestra[/b] on its first European tour. In 1954, he returned to Canada to play first violin with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, remaining until 1959. In 1959, he returned to England, as Co-Principal Violin of the [a=London Symphony Orchestra], remaining until 1962. During this period, he became a founding member of [a=The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields]. He was concertmaster from 1963 to 1968 of the [a=Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra], and joint concertmaster from 1969 to 1972 of the [a=London Philharmonic Orchestra]. In 1973, he returned to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster, earning the nickname, 'the face of the VSO'. In 1987, he became concertmaster of the [a=Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra], and in 1990, took on duties as concertmaster of the [a=Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra]. He was also concertmaster of the [b]Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra[/b]. His name has been added to the 'Starwalk at the Orpheum' in Vancouver. He was married to mezzo-soprano [a=Delia Wallis].