Hugh Bean
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Hugh Cecil Bean (b. Beckenham, 22 September 1929; d. 26 December 2003) was an English violinist.
One of the UKs most well known Violinists of the 20th century. After lessons from his father from the age of five, he became a pupil of Albert Sammons (and Ken Piper) when he was nine years old, later also attending the Royal College of Music, where at the age of seventeen he was awarded the principal prize for violin. A further year’s study with André Gertler at the Brussels Conservatory on a Boise Foundation travelling award brought him a double first prize for solo and chamber music playing, and with two other prizewinners he formed the Boise Trio.
He weas appointed professor of violin at the RCM at the age of 24 and became a freelance London orchestral player, until he was made sub-leader and then leader (1956–67) of the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was co-leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to 1969, when he resigned to concentrate on an independent career, but retained his membership (1966–76) of the Music Group of London. In 1989, he returned to the Philharmonia Orchestra as co-leader, and is now Leader Emeritus.
Hugh Bean performed concertos with many leading orchestras, both in this country and abroad. As a soloist his playing was distinguished by lyrical feeling and warmth of expression in addition to technical command. He recorded the Elgar Concerto for E.M.l. with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir Charles Groves, and with the Philharmonia Orchestra he recorded Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" with Stokowski and Vaughan Williams' "Lark Ascending" with Sir Adrian Boult, the latter being his legacy to the world of classical music. He made many recordings of chamber music with the Music Group of London, and together they toured extensively both performing and teaching in Europe, Scandinavia, The Middle and Far East, (including four visits to China), Canada and North and South America.
During thirty-seven years as Professor of Violin at the Royal College of Music, over fifty of his pupils have found positions in London orchestras including several as leaders - the present co-leaders of the BBC Symphony Orchestra are both his pupils. He was appointed F.R.C.M. in 1968, was awarded the Cobbett Gold Medal for chamber music in 1969 and created C.B.E. in 1970.
He played a violin by Pietro Guarneri (Venice 1734), on extended loan from Amy Haswell-Wilson, and owned one by Carlo Tononi dated 1716. His daughter now carries on the violin tradition.
