Conductor and pianist; Born July 5, 1948; Died November 10, 2008.
Alan Hazeldine, who has died aged 60 after a courageous battle with cancer, was a conductor and pianist.
He was born in Glasgow and studied there with Wight (Jack) Henderson at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, from which he graduated in 1969. He was a prodigious talent, and gave a superb performance of the Liszt B minor Sonata at the annual Governors' Recital prize in his final year.
He went on to study conducting across Europe, first with his mentor Vilem Tausky and later with Konstantin Iliev and Sergiu Celibidache. He worked extensively in Bulgaria, especially with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he gave the first performance in Eastern Europe of Vaughan Williams's Sixth Symphony. He was also guest conductor with the Vratsa Symphony Orchestra and appeared with the ECO, the BBC SSO and the Scottish and English ballet companies. For a period he directed the London production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Hazeldine's deep love of music and his commitment to the training and development of young musicians were present throughout his life and his work. For many years he taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he led the conducting course. Many fine young conductors were influenced by his teaching, and several of his pupils went on to enjoy successful careers.
For 23 years, Hazeldine was the founder conductor of the North London Chorus, during which time he directed some 60 concerts in such venues as St John's Smith Square and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Perhaps his greatest legacy is the Corinthian Chamber Orchestra, which he founded in 1995. During the past 13 years he developed the orchestra into one of the best of its kind in London. Many young concerto soloists gave their first performances under Hazeldine and his orchestra, which became his family towards the end of his life.
Alan Hazeldine married the mezzo-soprano Alison Mary Sutton in 1975. Although the marriage was dissolved in 1988, they remained firm friends.
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