Viola
NICK BARR
Prior to entering the Royal College of Music in 1984, Nick Barr played with the European Community Youth Orchestra and, whilst still studying, with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the London Symphony Orchestra. His professors at the RCM were Frederick Riddle and Roger Best.
In 1988, he won scholarships from the Countess of Munster Trust and the Royal Society of Arts to study in Salzburg with Thomas Riebl.
As a busy freelance session player, Nick has recorded over 600 soundtracks for films, including Gladiator, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, and performed with artists such as Cab Calloway, James Brown and Florence and the Machine.
He was a founder member of the Lyric Quartet making frequent radio and television appearances and many recordings, including the complete quartets of Dohnányi, Ginastera, Michael Nyman and Gavin Bryars. As a chamber musician, he has performed with Joshua Bell, Michael Collins and Martin Lovett of the Amadeus Quartet.
Nick is a member of the Max Richter Ensemble, performing Richter’s seminal work Sleep over 15 times both in the UK and overseas.
He has appeared as guest principal with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields and English National Opera.
Nick plays a viola by Charles Boullangier dated 1878.