Norman Del Mar

British horn player, conductor (specialised in the music of late romantic composers), teacher, and biographer. Born 31 July 1919 in Hampstead, London, England, UK - Died 6 February 1994 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK.
He studied at the Royal College of Music, London and started his career as a horn player. During World War II he saw service as a member of The Central Band Of The Royal Air Force. He was also a member of the Royal Air Force Symphony Orchestra. He worked as a composer, and arranger after the war, while conducting an amateur orchestra, which eventually grew into the [a=Chelsea Symphony Orchestra]. He was one of the original members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946 and made his professional debut as a conductor with the RPO in 1947. In 1949, Del Mar was appointed principal conductor of The English Opera Group, in which post he remained until 1954. He then held chief conducting posts with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra (1954), the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (1960–1965), Göteborgs Symfoniker (1969-1973), the Chamber Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music (1973 - 1977), and the Aarhus Symfoniorkester (1985–1988, serving also as its Artistic Director). He taught conducting at The Guildhall School Of Music & Drama (1953-1960) and at the Royal College of Music (1972-1990).
Commander (CBE) - Order of the British Empire.
Father of Jonathan Del Mar and Robin Del Mar.