Jack Brymer

John (Jack) Alexander Brymer OBE (27 January 1915 – 15 September 2003), was a British clarinettist, born in South Shields. The son of a builder, Jack Brymer started his working life as teacher. In 1947, on the recommendation of professional musicians who had played with Brymer during wartime military service, Sir Thomas Beecham, invited him to audition as principal clarinetist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to succeed Reginald Kell. Brymer h... more

John (Jack) Alexander Brymer OBE (27 January 1915 – 15 September 2003), was a British clarinettist, born in South Shields. The son of a builder, Jack Brymer started his working life as teacher. In 1947, on the recommendation of professional musicians who had played with Brymer during wartime military service, Sir Thomas Beecham, invited him to audition as principal clarinetist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to succeed Reginald Kell. Brymer held the post until 1963 and, together with Gwydion Brooke (bassoon), Gerald Jackson (flute) and Terence MacDonagh (oboe), became part of the celebrated ‘Royal Family’ of principal woodwind players with the RPO. When he left the RPO, he become a co-principal in the BBC Symphony Orchestra (1963-1971) and principal in the London Symphony Orchestra (1971-1986). Brymer made a number of commercial recordings, including three of Mozart's clarinet concerto. He founded and led the London Wind Soloists with whom he recorded the complete set of Mozart's... less