Leo Birnbaum

British viola player. Born 9 February 1911 in London, England, UK - Died 20 April 2008. Not to be confused with the American music editor Leon Birnbaum. He studied at The Guildhall School Of Music & Drama. In 1932, he was invited to become the youngest founder member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra remaining with the Orchestra through to 1938, when he briefly joined The London Symphony Orchestra (1939-1940) before playing in Mantovani And His Orchestra in the West End and in 37 wartime recordings. He later joined the Coldstream Guards. After the war, he joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Viola. By the end of the 1950s he decided to work entirely freelance. He was in the backing orchestera for The Beatles' first studio recording of "Hello Goodbye". He retired in 1986.