Jolyon Brettingham Smith

Jolyon Brettingham Smith ( born September 9, 1949 in Southampton, England; † 17 May 2008 ) was a British composer, conductor, performer, author, radio presenter and lecturer at the University of Arts in Berlin.

Life and work

After his graduation in 1966 he worked for maladjusted children as a class teacher in a London boarding school. He then studied philosophy at Cambridge as well as musicology and composition in Heidelberg and Berlin; among others he was a pupil of Isang Yun.

From 1970 to 1980 he played in the group Neue Musik Berlin and the improvisational ensembles NO_SET as a violist. From 1973 to 1978 he was artistic assistant at the Free University Berlin. In the 1975 season he had an engagement as guest conductor of the Bielefeld Opera. Since 1976 Brettingham Smith was a full professor at the University of the Arts ( University of Arts ) in Berlin.

From 1978 he worked as a writer and presenter for various broadcasters at home and abroad; became known Brettingham Smith by longtime moderation of programs such as " Classical Forum " ( WDR3 ), " Classical for breakfast " (rbb, 1979 ) or the "Musical Quartet " at SWR. His presentations were marked by profound expertise in historical and technical aspects. However, his activities ( violist ) it came in particularly benefit as a university teacher, composer and performer. He enjoyed great popularity among his listeners because of his humorous and sometimes self-deprecating moderations.

Brettingham Smith lived with his wife and six children in Berlin- Spandau. His compositional major works that have been performed in several countries and prestigious awards, including four operas, numerous musical theater and orchestral works, and chamber music, vocal music, film music and radio plays. He was a self-confessed early riser, his day began at 3 clock in the morning to 7 clock this was the best time for him to compose.

Jolyon Brettingham Smith died immediately after hearing his closing his mission Jolyon Live - The English Connection with the Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg ( RBB) in Berlin.