Gerald Jarvis

Canadian classical violinist & violist, and violin teacher. Born 19 April 1930 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Died 15 January 1996 in Chautauqua, New York, USA. He studied violin in Vancouver (1935-1948) and played in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1947. In 1948, he won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. He remained in England for several years, playing first with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and from 1952 to 1954 with the Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 1954, he went to Brussels to study, and the same year was concertmaster with Martha Graham's Dance Company Orchestra on its first European tour. In 1954, he returned to Canada to play first violin with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, remaining until 1959. In 1959, he returned to England, as Co-Principal Violin of the London Symphony Orchestra, remaining until 1962. During this period, he became a founding member of The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. He was concertmaster from 1963 to 1968 of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and joint concertmaster from 1969 to 1972 of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1973, he returned to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster, earning the nickname, 'the face of the VSO'. In 1987, he became concertmaster of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1990, took on duties as concertmaster of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He was also concertmaster of the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. His name has been added to the 'Starwalk at the Orpheum' in Vancouver. He was married to mezzo-soprano Delia Wallis.