ic Huddersfield.co.uk, UK
Oct 27 2006

Why Murray’s keeping score Oct 27 2006

By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MURRAY Greig, of Outlane, is principal trumpet with the Orchestra of
Opera North.

He says that the famous trumpet concerto by the celebrated Armenian
composer Alexander Arutiunian, with its glorious romantic passages
and fabulous fireworks cadenza, is the mainstay of all trumpet
soloists’ repertoire.

Murray is due to perform the piece at Leeds University on Saturday,
November 11, when he appears as guest soloist with the Sinfonia of
Leeds.

And that reminds him once again of the autographed score he has of
the work – a souvenir of a meeting in London, 14 years ago, with the
distinguished composer, who is now 86.

It was as senior professor of trumpet at the Royal Northern College
of Music, in Manchester, that Murray met Arutiunian at the Royal
Academy of Music in London.

He recalls: "Claire Allen, one of my pupils, was due to perform the
work in the finals of the 1992 BBC Young Musician of the Year contest
at the Barbicon. Arutiunian was in town as the guest of John Wallace
who is a friend of mine.

"As John was head of brass at the Academy he thought it would be a
nice idea if the great man heard her play it beforehand.
Unfortunately Claire lost out in the finals to the cellist Natalie
Cline but before we left he signed the cover of my score."

Douglas Scarfe, the Sinfonia’s associate conductor, will conduct the
concerto, plus the fifth symphonies of Schubert and Sibelius in the
Great Hall of Leeds University at 7.30pm on the 11th.

Tickets at £10 (£8 concessions) on 0113-2243801 or on the door.

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