Helen Harrison - Musical Director LYSO
Helen has established a reputation as a vibrant and versatile conductor. She is currently the Music Director and Conductor for
Blackpool Symphony Orchestra and the Lancashire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.
Helen read Music at Cambridge University where she began her conducting career working with various ensembles and orchestras.
As a violinist in the University’s premier orchestra, she played under the baton of conductors including Daniel Harding, Douglas Boyd,
James Judd, Jane Glover and Sian Edwards. Whilst at university, she studied violin with Jacqueline Hartley, former leader of the BBC
Symphony Orchestra. Helen’s academic interests include the symphonies of the Danish composer Carl Nielsen and Beethoven’s late
string quartets. After pursuing a career in industry, Helen returned to her true vocation as a conductor and musician.
She was recently selected to take part in the international conducting masterclasses held at the RNCM where she worked with Clark
Rundell, Mark Heron and Nicolas Pasquet. Helen believes passionately in the transformative power of classical music. As part of her
work as the musical director of Blackpool Symphony Orchestra she is pleased to have designed and delivered a series of successful
outreach projects that have enabled students from local schools to experience the exciting sound of a live symphony orchestra.
Having learnt the violin at school with the Lancashire Music Service and as a former Leader of the Lancashire Youth Symphony
Orchestra, Helen relishes working with the next generation of musicians in Lancashire in her role as music director and conductor of
the Lancashire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra.
Alongside her orchestral conducting engagements, Helen is also in demand as a musical director for musical theatre. On the violin,
she is an active performer working with a diverse range of groups from duos to orchestras across all genres. She is also a versatile
pianist accompanying singers and instrumentalists for concerts, competitions and examinations. Helen also enjoys sharing her
passion for music through her teaching practice with young people.
Howard Lorriman - Musical Director LYSO
Howard was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He started to play the cornet at the age of 11 and after winning a West Riding
scholarship went on to study trumpet at the Huddersfield School of Music under Maurice Murphy and composition with Arthur
Butterworth. He later studied singing at the Royal Welsh College of Music, winning two prizes for lieder. Howard also studied
euphonium with the legendary teacher George Thompson and has played with Hammonds Sauce, Lewington Yamaha, Yorkshire
Imperial and Sellers International Bands.
He has over thirty years experience as a highly respected teacher, examiner and conductor. For the last ten years he has been an
adjudicator at the Swiss Open Contest. In addition, he is a prolific arranger for orchestra, brass and wind bands and has written for
many ensembles including Black Dyke Band, Cory Band, Swiss Brass Consort, London Concert Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonic
Orchestra and Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana; soloists such as trombonists Ian Bousfield, Armin Bachmann and Brett Baker;
trumpeters Maurice Murphy, Philippe Schwarz, Matthias Höfs and Tina Thing Helseth as well as clarinettist Dimitri Ashkenazy. Much of
his work has been recorded and broadcast on television and radio.
Since 1997 he has been an in-house arranger and composer for the Swiss publisher, Obrasso. In 2013 his tone poem “Cry of the
Mountain” was chosen as the test piece for the first section regional brass band finals and in September 2014 at the World Band
Festival his Fantasy for Brass “Age of Innocence” received its premiere at the KKL in Lucerne, Switzerland. He is currently working on
a commission for the world famous German Brass.
Christine Lorriman - Orchestra Manager
Christine is a well respected flute teacher and player in the Lancashire/Yorkshire area. She has been a tutor with the Lancashire
County Youth ensembles for many years and was a former principal flautist with the Lancashire School’s Symphony Orchestra (the
previous name for LYSO).
Christine was awarded a County Scholarship to study with Patricia Morris and Atarah Ben-Tovim and later went on to study at
Huddersfield School of Music with Alan Lockwood (BBC Northern). On completion of her studies she was awarded the Turner Prize for
Orchestral Playing.
Since 2001 Christine has been a tutor on the annual international “Flute Kitchen” summer course in Harrogate.
Richard Laing - Musical Director LYSO 2008 - 2014
Since winning the sinfonia ViVA Conducting Scholarship in 2001, Richard has established a reputation as one of the
most exciting and versatile young conductors in Britain.
Richard studied violin at the University of Illinois and the RNCM, and plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the
Orchestra of the Swan, and as a guest leader for Queen's Park Sinfonia, Sinfonia of Birmingham and the Birmingham
Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2002 Richard graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire with a Master's degree and a postgraduate diploma in
conducting. Subsequently he worked intensively on operatic conducting at Dartington with Diego Masson. He has
conducted in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.
His current posts include:
•
Music Director of the Birmingham-based opera company Operamus.
•
Associate Conductor of the virtuoso young ensemble Sinfonia Cymru.
•
Principal Conductor of the Midlands Sinfonia and the Leamington Chamber Orchestra.
•
Music Director of the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra, the Leicester Bach Choir and the Midlands Chorale.
•
Associate Conductor of the Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra in London.
•
Conductor and coach in the Department of Vocal and Operatic Studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire where he assists Lionel
Friend.
In his limited spare time Richard pursues a wide range of academic interests: he has presented papers on opera and film at the
International Conferences in the USA and Australia. Among his proudest achievements are being appointed Vice President of the
University of Illinois Triathlon Club and having articles published in the iconic games magazine White Dwarf.
John Doyle - Musical Director LSSO 2008 - 2013
Heralded as one of the world's leading performers on the Flugel Horn, John Doyle has achieved many things, both as a performer,
soloist teacher, clinician and examiner.
Having been brought up in a musical environment John began learning the piano at the age of 9. This led onto a
fascination in brass instruments especially Flugelhorn.At the age of 13, John picked up his first cornet and
immediately joined the local Brass Band, the Lostock Hall Memorial Band. Having received guidance from the
experienced Ron Heyes, John Joined the Lancashire Youth Brass Band, (of which he is now a tutor). After touring
countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Holland and Germany under the creative baton of the world famous
cornetist, Peter Read (Principal cornet with Besses, Wingates, and Kings of Brass no less, and now Ensembles
Manager at Lancashire Music Service), a decision to further himself was made, joining the Championship section
Freckleton Band in 1995.
GCSE and A-Level exams came and went and with the culmination of hard work, a rigorous practice regime and
many band practices, John achieved both a place at the Royal Northern College of Music and a first section National title with
Freckleton in 1997.
Whilst at the RNCM, John studied with Howard Snell Martin Winter, Roger Webster and Murray Grieg on flugelhorn cornet and
trumpet. In terms of his musical career, John played flugelhorn at the BT Band, gaining that all-important place at the British Open
Contest. Not only this but he also played the Soprano Comet at The Williams Fairey Band for 6 months, eventually moved over to
Yorkshire to play with the World Famous Black Dyke Band, where John has played flugelhorn now for 8 years.
Joseph Fourie- LYSO Concert Leader 2010-2013
Joseph was born in 1995, and started playing the violin at the age of 5. At the age of 7 he gained a place in the National Children's
Orchestra of Great Britain and he stayed in this orchestra until he was 14 when he had to retire! He has been a member of the
Lancashire County Orchestra since he was 9, enjoying playing in both the Schools orchestra and now as leader of the Youth
Symphony orchestra. He has been taught, until recently by Andrew Maclaren and is now taught by Steve Wilkie. Joseph attends
CLitheroe Royal Grammar School and is hoping, after his GCSE's, to move to the sixth form, where he plans to study sciences at A
level. Joseph also enjoys playing the piano and gained a performance diploma from the London College of Music 2 years ago. In his
free time, Joseph loves playing football, table tennis and walking his dog.
Jenny Merren - Orchestra Manager to July 2011
After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music where she was principal Viola in the orchestra conducted by
Sir John Barbirolli, Jenny became a member of a String Quartet giving concerts throughout the Midlands. She
combined this with teaching and freelancing with the CBSO before moving to Manchester to work with the Hallé
Orchestra. This was interrupted by the arrival of two sons and after a few years she resumed a freelance career
combined with teaching both at home and in school.
Jenny has worked with RLPO, BBC Philharmonic and Opera North as well as being a founder member of
Manchester Camerata with whom she has toured France, Spain, Portugal, the Azores, Hong Kong and Macau.
She now divides he time between teaching, conducting and administering the Trafford Youth Orchestras and
assisting with the Lancashire Student Orchestras.
In her free time Jenny is to be found on the golf course or watching cricket at Old Trafford.
Jessica Thornhill - LYSO Concert Leader 2008-2010
Jessica was born in Leeds in 1992 and moved with her family to Lancashire in 2000. She started to learn the violin at the age of 5
with her
mother, who had played to a high standard as a child herself. Jessica was first tutored by Jean Barnes whilst at
primary school in Mellor, near Blackburn. She passed her grade 5 at the age of 11 and then received tuition at
home from Katherine Templeman, a professional player who played with the Hallé Orchestra.
In 2006 she started to take lessons from Gaynor Sutcliffe, a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and
a professional violinist with the renowned local group The Swing Commanders.
Jessica joined the Lancashire Students Symphony Orchestra at the age of 10, playing a specially arranged third
violin part. She progressed to lead the junior orchestra for 2 years under Dougie Scarfe before graduating to the
LYSO in 2005. She was deputy leader for 2 years before becoming leader in 2008.
She is currently tutored by Helen Brackley-Jones in Stockport, a member of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and
music tutor at Huddersfield University. Jessica has played in many school orchestras and chamber groups as
well as part of string quartets and also for a number of theatrical groups, sitting in "the pit" for musicals such as
Oklahoma and Some Like it Hot. She also plays alto saxophone with the Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Jessica is currently studying A levels at Westholme School, Blackburn and hopes to go on to further her music studies at music college
after her A levels in 2010.
Jonathan Hoyle - LYSO Concert Leader 2005 - 2008
Jonathan was born in Burnley in 1990 and is the younger of two children. He began learning the violin when he was six with
Josephine Whitfield. Subsequently he has had lessons with Suzanne Bareau and then with Benedict Holland in Manchester.
He started piano lessons when he was 11 and achieved distinction in Grade 7 with teacher Krystina Adams. He is
also working for Grade 8 viola which he plays with Lancashire Chamber Orchestra and Tutti.
Jonathan joined the orchestra in September 2002 and spent the first year in the second violin section. He was
appointed leader in September 2005. In his first year at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School 6th form he gained an A
grade in A-level music and AS levels in geography, french and general studies.
Most of his spare time is taken up singing and playing in various ensembles, but he is also a keen cricketer and an
active member of Nelson Swimming Club.
Jonathan is a previous winner of the Chris Brooks Memorial Prize.
Julian Clayton - Musical Director LYSO to 2008
Julian Clayton was musical director of the LYSO until 2008. He studied violin and conducting at Dartington, Toulouse and Birmingham.
Following an early career as a violinist he made his professional debut as a conductor with London Festival Ballet. A recent prize at
the International Conductors' Workshop in the Czech Republic has resulted in engagements in Zlin, Olomouc, Salzburg and, most
recently, in Hradec Králové. He has worked with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, the Magyar Radio and Television
Orchestra, the Surrey Sinfonietta, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Also very
active in the world of opera, he has conducted seasons for Opera-on-a-Shoestring and Civit Hills Opera.
Julian Clayton has gained an enviable reputation as one of the foremost trainers of young orchestras, and as such
has worked with many student and conservatoire orchestras and opera departments in the UK and abroad, including
conducting the massed strings of the London International String Quartet Symposium where he also acted as
assistant to Yehudi Menuhin.
In addition to broadcasting on radio and television, Julian's commercial recordings include five discs with the
orchestra of Chetham's School of Music, which all met with wide critical acclaim. His recording of Elgar's First
Symphony was reviewed by Michael Kennedy as "phenomenal" and a recording of music by Charles Camilleri with the
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has just been released. Julian Clayton has recently enjoyed highly successful debuts with the
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, the Limburgs Symphony Orchestra, Maastricht, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with whom
he has appeared regularly both in the concert hall and the recording studio
In recognition of his outstanding work with young musicians, Julian has recently been appointed Chief Executive and Artistic Director
of the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland.
Friends of the Lancashire Student Symphony Orchestras - Reg. Charity No. 511059
