Violinist and founding member of the Doric Quartet Alex Redington will assume the role in September 2025
The Purcell School has announced the appointment of violinist and educator Alex Redington as its new head of strings, commencing September 2025.
Redington succeeds Charles Sewart, who will step down after 18 years of service.
’I am thrilled to take up the position of head of strings at the Purcell School,’ commented Redington. ’Having been a student there myself, I am fully aware of the importance and positive impact it has on shaping the futures of its gifted students.
’I feel privileged to be entrusted with this role and look forward to working alongside the school’s talented staff to help realise the enormous potential of its students.’
Redington brings to the school a wealth of experience as a performer and teacher. He spent 27 years as first violinist and founding member of the Doric Quartet, which formed when he was just 15, with which he recorded exclusively for Chandos.
As a teacher, Redington has held faculty positions at the Royal Academy of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School and the University of Cambridge.
He has collaborated with artists such as Benjamin Grosvenor, Jonathan Biss, Elisabeth Leonskaja and Marc-André Hamelin, and appeared on stages including Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Wigmore Hall.
As a soloist, Redington has performed with orchestras including the Vienna Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestra under conductors such as John Adams and Edward Gardner.
Principal Paul Bambrough welcomed the appointment: ’We are absolutely delighted to welcome Alex back to the Purcell School. His exceptional musicianship, inspiring career and deep commitment to education make him uniquely suited to lead our Strings Department into its next chapter.
’We look forward with great excitement to all he will bring to our musical community.’
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