Andy Smith has been the Philharmonia's Timpanist for 40 years. He is only the third timpanist since the creation of the orchestra and the longest serving one! He began playing the piano at the age of four. He studied percussion at the Royal College of Music (with Alan Taylor of the Royal Opera House and also with Eric Pritchard timpanist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios) and is himself now a teacher and lecturer at the RCM.
The Philharmonia's Principal Timpani's Chair is endowed by Sandra and Pierre Bernheim.







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