Michael Teychenné hon president
Michael was brought up in the English choral tradition and played clarinet in his schooldays, touring Germany, Yugoslavia and Greece. He started conducting choirs and small orchestras in his early twenties and over the following twenty years conducted on the South Bank for six seasons, gave concerts in St. Paul's and Southwark cathedrals, and conducted theatre performances of Don Giovanni and Marriage of Figaro. Michael has conducted the Harrow Symphony Orchestra for 6 years up to June 2010..
Gustavo Ubeda conductor
Gustavo was born in Spain educated in England and Russia and has been living in London since 1993. He has completed the Advanced Orchestral Conducting Course of the Philharmonic Society of St Petersburg and the Performance Diploma Course at the Trinity College of Music, London. Gustavo has an impressive list of results at a good number of competitions, including : Finalist at 'Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra Conducting Competition' (2006), Spain, winner of the ‘National Competition of Instrumentalists and Singers‘ (1991), Music Institute, Catholic University of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Third Prize at the ‘Ciclos Program and All Instruments Music Competition’ (1990), Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, winner of the ‘Young Instrumentalists of Bahia Competition’ (1989), Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, special Prize ‘Best J.S. Bach Interpretation’ at the ‘Young Instrumentalists of Bahia Competition’ (1989), Federal University of Bahia, Brazil and winner of 'Villa-Lobos Prize' (1988), Federal University of Bahia, Brazil.He has conducted orchestras in Kazakhstan, Brazil, Spain and Russia.
Andrew Hickman assistant conductor
Andrew studied music at Middlesex University and specialised in Music Performance. He conducts regularly the Concert wind band of Harrow Young Musicians. He is a great lover of classical music in general, but is particularly interested in Romantic 20th century and English music of the late 19th and early 20th century.
Peter Detre chairman
Peter Detre was voted in as the new chairman in May 2010 and his first task is to find a new conductor to replace the irreplaceable Michael Teychenne. Peter has been a company director and entrepreneur for most of his career. He started to play the violin at the age of six in his native Hungary and gave his first public recital at eight. He was leader of the Ampleforth College Symphony in N. Yorks where he went to school. He also played for Brent Symphony for some 15 years. He has 3 sons all of whom play various instruments. He is a Fellow of the RSA.
Robert Was leader
I started playing the violin at the age of 7 through school, and I played in the orchestras through the Huddersfield Education Services. I eventually passed through the system and by the age of 15, I was leader of the Senior Orchestra under the conductor, Colin Sutcliffe. After my Secondary education I then attended the Huddersfield Music School, where my violin tutor was Bert Whone. At the end of my studies I joined the Coldstream Guards as a Musician and led their Orchestra.
Whilst in the forces I studied at the Military music college at Kneller Hall in Twickenham. Towards the end of my time with the Guards, I was performing regularly around the various Concert Halls in London, also playing at the BBC, as a freelance musician. Once I had left the Guards, I then become a full time performer in the same venues. Since the late 70s' early 80s' I was engaged as a software technician with several companies and did not perform very much due to time constraints and also starting a family.
All my children were encouraged to join in the music groups at their schools and all of them started to play the violin. It was their first violin tutor who put me in touch with the Harrow Symphony Orchestra, after I had played in various educational establishments with the Hillingdon Music Schools' Staff Orchestra.
I have been with the Harrow Symphony Orchestra for about 5 - 6 years, becoming leader in 2001, after our then leader left to take a sabbatical in Australia.
Victoria Peet concert manager
Neil De-Menorca marketing manager
Stephen Randall clarinet/treasurer
Stephen Randall was born and brought up in Eastcote and has lived in Pinner for the last 30 years. His father, Stan, was a brilliant self-taught pianist who also played accordion, trumpet, ukulele (a la George Formby) and harmonica, and would make a reasonable job of playing any musical instrument that came within his grasp. Stephen inherited his father’s love of music and studied clarinet from the age of 12 at the Harrow School of Music with Betty Connah gaining distinction at Grade 8, and winning the Mayor of Harrow’s prize for music in 1972.
After A-levels Stephen had to choose between a career in music and in engineering. Deciding that engineering was the more secure option, he studied chemical engineering at Imperial College. He now works as an environmental consultant with a major UK engineering firm. However, music has continued to be a major part of his life and Stephen has taken every opportunity to play in local orchestras, ensembles and bands. He has been principal clarinet in the Harrow Concert Band for over 20 years and joined Harrow Symphony Orchestra in 2000.
In addition to the clarinet, Stephen is an accomplished tuba player and plays regularly with Highgate Brass Decet. He also dabbles in composition; his march “Blue Arrow” has been adopted by Harrow Concert Band as their signature tune.
Robin Smith french horn
After a shaky
start learning the horn while at secondary school in Shropshire, with
perseverance (and not to say bloody mindedness) Robin discovered the joys,
and occasional tribulations, of ensemble playing in the Wolverhampton
Youth Orchestra and Concert Band. During further education and career
since then, Robin has always found a group to play in as an escape from
the stresses of working life. Particular highlights included playing light
opera with the Middlesex Hospital Medical School Orchestra and Mahler
symphonies with the New Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra. Robin also
enjoyed the more mainstream orchestral repertoire with the London Medical
Orchestra and the Chichester Symphony Orchestra.
While working in the West Country Robin played for the Trowbridge Orchestra
for a number of years. During that time he took the orchestra on tour
to Trowbridge’s twin town, Leer in Ostfriesland, Germany, where they performed
in the Kreismusikschule.
Robin joined the Harrow Symphony Orchestra in 1994 when his work brought
him to Northwood, and he was elected Chairman several years ago.
Carole’s (his wife’s) perspective: “Robin was an enthusiastic horn player
when we met in 1979. Believe me an orchestra rehearsal beats washing up!
We’ve supported each other through the prevarications of keeping an amateur
orchestra going. All one needs is a sense of humour!”
One aspect of Carole’s support is that she and a very long standing friend,
Mary, often very kindly help the Orchestra by running the box office on
the days of concerts.
Helen Simon flute
Helen grew up in Harrow and started playing the piano at the age of 6 and the flute at 11. She attended North London Collegiate School where she learned flute and piano and was a member of the school orchestra and choir. One of her most memorable experiences from her school days was singing in the school choir as part of the Bach Choir’s Easter performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion at the Royal Festival Hall. Helen attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department, enjoying the music on offer, including performing in the choirs at the Royal Albert Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
After leaving school, Helen went to Leeds to train as a teacher, specialising in music. Since qualifying she has had a variety of teaching jobs, including private flute and piano teaching. She joined the Harrow Symphony Orchestra after leaving college. Later Helen continued her flute studies and had lessons with David Butt, and she performed a Vivaldi Flute Concerto with the orchestra.
A few years ago, she took a very late gap year, travelling with her husband around the world and then returned to resume teaching and start a family. They have two daughters, an eight year old budding violinist and a six year old beginner cellist. Helen re-joined HSO 2 years ago when her children let go of the apron strings and picked up the musical ones. Helen now teaches music at her children’s infant school and enjoys her flute playing; especially flute duets, quintets and playing with her children.