Graeme Wright has been a hard-working and perceptive member of the orchestral committee for many years and became Chairman in 2019. He has also been our principal cel1ist since he joined in 1979.
Born in Billericay, he showed an early aptitude for music, taking up the cello at the age of 10 at Mawney Junior School. He subsequently developed his orchestral playing in the Havering Youth Training Orchestra – which has proved a useful grounding for several younger members of the HCO. For four years, from the age of 14, he attended the Royal Academy of Music as a Junior Exhibitioner on Saturday mornings. Graeme received his secondary school education at St Edward’s Comprehensive School, Romford before studying for a BMus at Goldsmiths, part of the University of London.
It was here that he took the decision to teach his favourite subject – music. He then attended teacher training college in Birmingham before taking up the post of Music/Maths teacher at Mayesbrook Comprehensive School in Dagenham, which later became Sydney Russell. Here he took part in a number of school productions including Grease, Oliver, The Wizard of Oz, and Oklahoma. Usually as accompanist but sometimes conducting at the same time!
Amongst his hobbies Graeme numbers many, including visits to opera/concerts and listening to classical music. He is a keen collector of recordings in many formats and has recently even branched out into 78s!
Demonstrating his interest in travel, culture and history, Graeme has travelled widely including to Egypt, India, China and Russia.
Graeme is also an accomplished pianist – he started playing at the age of 6 – a skill which he further enhances by accompanying young players in their music exams.
Graeme is now a man of leisure having retired from teaching at the end of 2017.