Major John Perkins

John Perkins’ career has incorporated playing in orchestras, wind bands, brass bands and dance bands, as well as spending much of his adult life as a conductor and composer. He began studying the violin with Harry Lipman (himself a pupil of Brodsky) and, at the age of 17, he was appointed Leader of the Orchestra in HM Yacht Britannia, a position he held for eight years travelling the world with the Royal Family. He continued his violin studies with Molly Mack at the Royal Academy of Music, and Mr KoeKoe in Arnhem, Holland. In 1976, John gained the professional qualifications of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM), the Royal College of Music (ARCM) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (LGSM), as well as the Chappell Conducting Prize and Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. In 1980, he undertook the Conductors Course at the Royal Academy of Music with Maurice Miles and Malcolm McDonald, where his joint first study of composition resulted in composer membership of the PRS/MCPS and numerous recordings of his music.

In 1997 John was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) and in 1998 was co-author of a degree programme at both bachelor’s and Master’s level for the University of Portsmouth. John was, until November 2000, Director of Music of the Royal Marines Band. He appeared as a solo violinist at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999, 2000 and 2003 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His popular recording of the Ashokan Farewell remains a great favourite with radio listeners.