MARCIA CRAYFORD
At the age of fourteen, Marcia Crayford won a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she studied with Yehudi Menuhin and Nadia Boulanger. At the age of fifteen, she made her solo debut at the Royal Festival Hall. Three years later, Yehudi Menuhin invited her to partner him in the Bach Double Concerto, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult at the Royal Albert Hall.
As a scholarship student at the Royal Academy of Music, she studied with Frederick Grinke and was coached by Sidney Griller of the Griller Quartet. During this time she gave a recital at the Berlin Festival, undertook several concerto tours, worked with Sandor Vegh, attended masterclasses in Siena with Franco Gulli, and played in the Menuhin Festival Orchestra. In 1988 she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy, in recognition of her distinguished career.
In 1970 she joined the world-renowned Nash Ensemble, of which she was to be the leader for 25 years. With the ensemble, she performed a vast repertoire from Mozart to the 'avant garde', including no fewer than 190 premieres, and made an impressive number of recordings (over 40).
The Nash have played throughout Europe, Scandinavia, USA, South America, USSR, India, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East and the Far East. At home in Britain, they have been regular visitors to all the major music festivals and music clubs, also appearing on television, radio, at BBC Proms, the South Bank, Barbican Centre and Wigmore Hall.
During those years she continued to appear as a soloist, notably with Sir Simon Rattle, Vernon Handley (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) and Sir Michael Tippett (in his Triple Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall).
On the lighter side, she played with the Wallace Collection in an American programme, including a John P. Sousa piece for violin and brass band, Scott Joplin arrangements (with Joshua Rifkin), and as a cornet player in 'Stars and Stripes Forever'.
On leaving the Nash Ensemble in 1995, Marcia was immediately invited to lead the London Symphony Orchestra. There she worked with Sir Colin Davis, Sir Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas, Antonio Pappano and Myung-Whun Chung. A highlight was receiving standing ovations for three performances of 'Schindler's List' with the LSO conducted by the composer, John Williams. She also led the LSO Chamber Ensemble and toured the USA, Mexico and Colombia with the Barbican String Quartet.
Future plans include solo appearances in Europe, recitals, chamber music, and guest leading several major British orchestras.