Conductor – Anne Kimber
Anne has been connected with the PSO for many years, first as a player and subsequently as conductor (only the sixth in 150 years of the orchestra’s existence).
As a flautist her musical activities have ranged widely in the South West, performing with groups such as the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Opera South West, New Devon Opera, the South West Sinfonietta and many others.
She also manages the Dartington Festival Orchestra as part of the Dartington International Summer School and has been a mentor for the renowned South West Music School.
As conductor of the PSO she has helped to draw performances of real power and vibrancy from the players, enabling it to become the most accomplished group of its kind in the South West.
PSO Conductor & Musical Director Anne Kimber awarded Honorary Degree by Plymouth Marjon University
Professor Rob Warner was delighted to award Plymouth Symphony Orchestra’s Conductor, Anne Kimber, with the degree of Master of Arts Honoris Causa on Sunday 26 June 2022 at the University’s first ‘Prom on the Quad’ event.
The University is empowered to confer honorary degrees upon persons who have achieved great distinction in their professional and personal lives and made outstanding contributions to the fabric of our society.
A number of nominations were considered for this year’s honorary degrees and we were unanimous in wishing to recognise Anne’s significant achievements by awarding the Degree of Master of Arts Honoris Causa, the highest level of award the University is authorised to bestow.
Professor Warner said ‘The University wishes to recognise Anne’s dedication to both the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra, and the Dartington Festival Orchestra, but equally her overall contribution to the field of classical music within the region. We believe she offers an excellent role model for our students and would be an admirable ambassador for the University’.
Leaders of the Orchestra
Catherine Smith
Cath was born and brought up in Havant, near Portsmouth. Her father Tony is a keen amateur cellist, so she grew up surrounded by music. Cath took up the violin at the age of 9, starting initially with weekly lessons at school in a group of four. She ‘got the bug’, largely due to the enthusiasm of her teacher Graham Frewer who introduced her to the joys of ensemble playing.
Cath was fortunate to benefit from many other musical opportunities including membership of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra, and chamber music coaching whilst she was still at school, which have provided a great foundation for her ongoing musical exploits. At 18, Cath left home for Birmingham to study Medicine, and managed to keep up her playing by joining the Birmingham Philharmonic orchestra. Qualifying as a doctor in 1995, after junior doctor jobs in Birmingham and Nottingham, Cath moved to Plymouth in 1997 and soon managed to track down the PSO. After playing for a couple of seasons, unfortunately on calls and medical exams meant that she was unable to keep up her PSO commitment. For the next decade her only sorties into classical music were to lead the annual Peninsula Doctors Orchestra concerts.
Having settled into her post as a consultant radiologist, and started a family, Cath was able to rejoin the PSO in 2013. ‘I missed playing with the PSO – our programmes are varied, interesting and there is usually something to challenge and stretch us. The players are friendly and support each other. It’s also a great way to unwind from my day job.’
Nathan Broomhead
Nathan started playing the violin in 1985 at the age of three. Initially taught by Barrie Moore (previously Deputy Leader of the CBSO), from 1995 he was a student of Christine Lees (solo violinist and former teacher at the Geneva Conservatoire). As a teenager, in addition to performing as a soloist and chamber musician, he had the opportunity to play in a number of orchestras including the ESTA International Youth String Orchestra and the National Children’s Chamber Orchestra which he led in 1997. He also had the chance to perform in venues including Snape Maltings, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St. John’s Smiths Square, where his string quartet was a finalist three times at the Schools National Chamber Music Competition. He was twice invited to perform violin duos with his teacher at St. James’s Palace.
Rather than pursuing a career in music, Nathan opted to study mathematics at Oxford, during which time he played with the Oxford University Orchestra and Sinfonietta (leading in 2002). He then moved to Bath and played with the Bath Symphony Orchestra for several years (leading in 2007/2008) while writing his PhD. Following an eight year period working as a mathematician in Germany and performing as Konzertmeister of the Collegium Musicum in Hannover, he moved back to the U.K. in 2016. He now works as a lecturer in pure mathematics at the University of Plymouth and enjoys performing both as a soloist and orchestral musician with the Plymouth Symphony Orchestra.
Dawn Ashby
Dawn has been playing with the PSO for over 20 years, originally at the back of the second violins and gradually working her way towards the front of the first violins.
She began learning the violin at the age of 8, after being offered lessons in primary school, and took full advantage of the many musical opportunities offered to her throughout her school career, culminating in membership of the Leicestershire Schools Symphony and Chamber Orchestras. Dawn chose not to pursue a full-time career in music, but after graduating from Plymouth with a degree in Environmental Science, continued to study the violin with Hans Kassier for over 15 years.
She has attempted to play many other stringed instruments, and even learnt the harp in school in order to escape hockey lessons, but has always wanted to play the cello. So during one late night eBay shopping trip she bought a viola, so she could learn the Elgar Cello concerto (arranged for viola by Tertis) without the need for cello technique! So, watch out cellists, if the PSO ever plays the Elgar, Dawn will be vying with you to play the solo part in rehearsals!
Dawn has led several local orchestras including the University of Plymouth Orchestra and South West Sinfonietta, where she played with several eminent soloists (including Craig Ogden, Natalie Klein and Julian Lloyd Webber) and performs regularly with several orchestral and chamber ensembles throughout the southwest.
She now shares the leadership of the PSO with two other members of the orchestra and will be found leading the viola section when not playing the violin.