A MUSCIAN from Bowes who has performed with the likes of Shirley Bassey and The BeeGees helped nurture two of the performers at the local round of Rotary’s Young Musician of the Year competition.
Young violinists Caitlyn McLean and Seren Greenwell won under 11 and under 16 age group categories respectively, with both being tutored by former London Philharmonic Orchestra member Martin Bainbridge.
He said: “I know how well they play – they are very talented children, especially the little one, she is amazing – a prodigious talent. Caitlyn won not only the under 11 category, but the overall competition which was amazing. I think she is probably the youngest recipient of that accolade.”
He added that he was delighted to be able to pass on his expertise. Mr Bainbridge’s music career began after studying at the Royal academy of Music in London before spending six years with “one of the greatest teachers of the world” Sascha Lasserson.
He went on to play for the London Symphony and London Philharmonic orchestras. Mr Bainbridge also toured Europe for two years with The BeeGees and spent time playing sessions for a number of top singers and groups. He said: “It was in the 1960s when there were five of them. They were just one of a number of groups I played sessions for.
“I used to book for Pye Records. Very often you didn’t even know who it was for, of course you remember things like the BeeGees and I went on tours with Gene Pitney.”
He would also play during performances at Talk Of The Town nightclub, including alongside stars such as Shirley Bassey. His music can also be heard in popular films from the time, and he attended several premieres.
Ms Bainbridge said: “I did for instance the film premier of Anne of The Thousand Days, and I think the royals were there then at Leicester Square. There was so much, it was so varied.”
He concluded: “The real quality of course was with the London Philharmonic.”
