WREXHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Andrew C. Lansom – principal flute

Born and raised in Manchester, Andrew Lansom took up the flute whilst at Chetham’s and was taught by Frank Houldsworth (Hallé) and Muriel Wilde (BBC Northern) but his greatest influence was his father – also a flautist – who taught him many ‘tricks of the trade’ and with whom he would pass many a happy evening playing duets. He joined the Manchester Youth Orchestra where he met his future wife, Stella (violin) and subsequently went on to be a member of the Gorton Philharmonic, which gave up to eight concerts a year, playing to audiences in excess of three thousand.

Andrew went into insurance and was transferred to Wrexham in 1969. Within a few weeks of arriving in Wrexham, a chance meeting of a friend of a business associate led to the founder of the orchestra, Bryn Williams, inviting him to join the newly formed orchestra as its principal flautist – a position he is still currently enjoying.

He was the orchestra’s conductor for eight years in the 1980s, its Chairman for six years and on its committee for over twenty-five years. In addition, he has been the musical director of the Dee and Alyn Gilbert and Sullivan Society for nine productions and played in the pit orchestras of all the major music societies in and around Wrexham. He has also ‘helped out’ with the Crosby Symphony and Chester Philharmonic Orchestras and is a member of the St. John’s Festival Orchestra, Chester.

Andrew has taught many pupils privately and this, coupled with his musical experience, led to a career move, in 1995, to become a full-time woodwind peripatetic music teacher in Wrexham.

He lives in Wrexham, with his wife, Stella, and has two children – Mark (violin) who lives in Wrexham and Susannah (flute) who is currently living and working in London.

Andrew Lansom has the unique distinction of having performed in every concert by the orchestra since its foundation in 1969!

January 2001

Andrew C. Lansom 1943-2001

Andrew died after a relatively short illness on June 14^th 2001. As a mark of respect, the orchestras’ Young Musician award was renamed the “Andrew Lansom Young Player Award”, and the concert on July 7^th, conducted by his son, was dedicated to his memory.

“At times committee member, at times Chairman, at times Conductor, his contribution to an orchestra that now flourishes shaped his life and, in turn, the lives of so many individual players and indeed the cultural well-being of the town.”

Rev. James Aylward, June 25^th 2001

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