Manoug Parikian has lived in England since he came to study the violin here in 1936. Of Armenian ancestry, he was appointed leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946 and a year later became leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Since 1957 he has devoted all his time to his career as a soloist and has played in all the European countries and has toured Russia twice. British composers have dedicated many works to him and last summer he was a member of the jury for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Malcolm Binns studied at the Royal College of Music where he was awarded several prizes. He made his London recital debut in 1956 and has played with all the principal British orchestras, appearing frequently at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. He has toured widely and since 1970 has played in France, Turkey, Iran, Rome and Milan. Malcolm Binns has made many recordings of piano works and concertos and since 1968 has given six recitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Formed in the spring of 1968, the John Alldis Vocal Ensemble is an Octet comprising members of the John Alldis Choir under his personal direction. This smaller group of singers has performed with conspicuous success to Music Societies throughout England and has now become an established group in its own right. The repertoire is taken from that of the larger choir and the Octet have taken part in concerts given by the John Alldis Choir at the Bergen Festival and in Stockholm. The Ensemble was originally formed in order to undertake an extended tour for the Scottish Arts Council.
This concert is to be given by Young Professionals of high promise who have recently left, or are about to leave, their college of music, thereby giving encouragement to a few young artists who justifiably merit an opportunity to perform. The artists will be chosen at a much later date, depending on who happens to be both available and within the proper category at the time.
The Delme String Quartet is composed of individually fine chamber music players, each with an international reputation. The quartet has won critical and public acclaim at major festivals and has taken part in the BBC’s International Quartet Series at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Formed only six years ago, they were in residence for one year as quartet to the Arts Faculty of the University of Sussex. As a critic commented in May 1971 “Each member of the Delme Quartet has, in his own way, added lustre to the music making of this century”.