David Adams
David Adams, Leader of Ulster Orchestra, began studies at the age of 5 with his father, Principal Viola in the Hallé Orchestra. Studied at Chetham’s School of Music, RNCM and in the USA with Zvi Zeitlin and Daniel Phillips. He has recently acquired a beautiful Johannes Gagliano violin from 1800 and plays a Betts viola c.1840 previously played by his father
Describe your job as leader of the Ulster Orchestra?
My job as leader of the Ulster Orchestra is pretty wonderful and very exciting. It is the most challenging but also the most inspiring job! There are several roles that I have to play; I have to be a diplomat, I have to liaise with the other musicians in the orchestra and help the conductor achieve a particular sonority or expression. I also have to take care of the technical discipline of the orchestra. Musically, I have to advise the conductor or assist with technical issues like ensemble or intonation. I then also have to be a soloist like the other principal players in the orchestra and be prepared to play solo parts both within the orchestrra and at the front of it. It is very challenging to have so many different roles to play and then still perform to the best of my ability. It can sometimes be very distracting when all you want to do is play the violin. But obviously it is very inspiring working with eminent conductors and soloists and also working with the great musicians within the orchestra.
When did you know that you wanted to be a professional musican?
I’ve always known that I wanted to be a professional musician. When I was a kid, my dad was a professional musician; principal viola in the Hallé orchestra. It just seemed a very natural thing for me to do. But I did have to make a conscious decision when I was around 19 or 20 years old that this is what I wanted to do, and it was!
What do other members of your family do?
My dad was principal viola in the Hallé orchestra for 35 years and was always very supportive and inspiring and generous with his music and music making. My mum, brother and sister are all computer programmers, although my sister also has a music degree. My wife, Alison Neary, is a very fine cellist and my daughter is 4 years old.
Do you perform in any other groups?
I perform in several other groups:
The Goldberg Ensemble is a string ensemble which I am the director of and we perform around 15-20 chamber concerts throught the year www.goldbergensemble.com
I am also a member of the National Ensemble which is an incredible group of players and next year I have a recording with the Endellion String Quintet in which I play the viola!
What’s in your cd player right now?
In my CD player in Belfast there is the Verdi Requiem which the Ulster Orchestra are playing this week, in London there is the Delius Cello Sonata which my wife is playing this week, and in my car there is Gruffalo which is my daughter Isobel’s CD. There is a collection of Led Zeppelin CDs not too far away as well.
What would you be if not a musician?
If I were not a musician I would probably be a teacher, but I cannot imagine doing anything other than what I am currently doing!
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am most looking forward to several things this season. One has already passed and it was playing the Stanford Irish Concertino for violin and cello with my wife. I am very much looking forward to playing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No.2 on 25 April 2008 which will be very exciting. We had a fantastic start to the season with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony which is one of my favourite pieces to play. The most exciting thing that is happening at the moment is that my wife and I are expecting another baby in about 5 weeks!