Norman was born in Dublin,
Ireland. He began violin
studies at age 10, and
when he was 15 he won
a scholarship to the
Royal College of Music
in London. He held the
position of Assistant
Concertmaster with the
Royal Philharmonic,
BBC Symphony, Philharmonia
and the London Symphony.
He was
a founding member of
the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
and the London Octet.
In 1965 Norman was appointed
Concertmaster of the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
and soon after, formed
the internationally
acclaimed Purcell String
Quartet.
He has
appeared as soloist
with many orchestras,
including the London
Symphony, the Academy
of St. Martin-in-the-Fields,
the BBC Symphony and
the Vancouver Symphony.
As a chamber musician
he has performed in
every major city in
Canada and the United
States, in Europe, Russia,
Japan and China.
In 1979
he was appointed Professor
of Violin and Chamber
Music at the University
of Alberta in Edmonton
and Leader of the University
String Quartet. He was
Conductor of the Academy
Strings and the University
Symphony Orchestra.
In 2007
Maestro Nelson was awarded
the Orchestras Canada
Betty Webster Award,
a national award presented
to individuals or organizations
that have made a sustained
and significant contribution
over a number of years
to the Canadian orchestral
community, with an emphasis
on leadership, education
and volunteerism.
Norman
now makes his home on
Vancouver Island and
is active as a player,
teacher and conductor.
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