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Herbert Downes

English viola player. Born: 15th July 1909 Walsall, Staffordshire, England, UK. - Died: 21st December 2004. In 1940, he moved to the [a=BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra] in Glasgow and thence to the [a=Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra], Britain's finest wartime orchestra, as principal viola. Founding member and Principal Viola of the [a=Philharmonia Orchestra]/[a=New Philharmonia Orchestra] from 1945 to 1974. In the 1940s, he was a member of the [a=London Symphony Orchestra]. Uncle of [a=Andrew Downes (2)].