Our violin soloist this evening, Julian Cann, comes from the North West of England, where his collaboration with the cellist Andrew Taylor began. Originally a student of French at London University, it was there that he studied the violin under the Scottish tutelage of Linda McLaren, later returning north and taking lessons with Reginald Stead, former leader of the BBC Northern Symphony (now Philharmonic) Orchestra.

In 1996 Julian became founder-leader of the Serafin String Quartet which in 1998 gave the world premiere of Arthur Butterworth’s quartet op. 100, written with the Serafin in mind. The Serafin became known especially for their championship of British 20th and 21st century music, as well as playing a wide standard repertoire; Julian particularly enjoys the chamber music aspect of tonight’s paradoxically symphonic concerto.

As a busy freelance orchestral violinist, Julian has played with the National Concert Orchestra, the Manchester Concert Orchestra and the Northern Chamber Orchestra, and recently performed at the royal wedding in Chester Cathedral. He leads Lancaster’s Haffner Orchestra, with whom he has also appeared as soloist, and in recent years has branched out into the concerto repertoire with performances of Bruch, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Brahms’ Double Concerto.

In a lighter vein, Julian enjoys playing with the Pictish Players Scottish Country Dance Band with whom he will be recording a CD in August 2005. His current Munro count stands at 164.