Michael Turner

Viola

Michael Turner has been a member of the viola section since 1986 and has led the section on many occasions. Prior to joining the Philharmonia he was a member of the Bournemouth Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestras.

Portrait of Michael Turner

As a boy he was a chorister at St John’s College Cambridge, where he featured as soloist on a number of recordings in the 1960s. He studied at the Royal College of Music and Cambridge University, learning the viola with Frederick Riddle and Bruno Giuranna.

Highlights of his time with the Philharmonia Orchestra have included working with the three most recent principal conductors, but also with such greats as Svetlanov, Sanderling, Giulini and Mackerras. However, the main inspiration has been playing with wonderful colleagues, belonging to a first-class and well-motivated section, and being paid to travel all over the world making great music.

He owns two violas: one by Luigi Bajoni from 1856 that has been played now by three generations of Philharmonia violists, and another made for him in 2000 by Roger Hansell. He has been happily married for 36 years with two wonderful grown-up daughters. In his spare time he is never happier than when in the kitchen, baking bread, kneading pasta or stirring marmalade. He tries to keep in reasonable shape by visiting the gym, but also by cycling with Anne along the Thames towpath and on holidays in France.

Chair endowed by Naomi and Christophe Kasolowsky.

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