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Jenifer Smith was born in West Bromwich, studying the violin from the age of eleven, with Leslie Warner, Edgar Wheatley and finally Florence Hewitt (herself a pupil of Rowsby Woof). Peripatetic instrumental teaching in schools at this time was in its infancy, and a number of the teachers were retired players from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and other professional orchestras. Unlike today, lessons were free, you just paid a small amount towards a "school violin". Even this stood a chance of being fairly decent, no Chinese imports just yet! In fact Jenifer played on her old Bavarian "school violin" until just a few years ago, when she invested in a new violin from the London maker, Nigel Harris. Jenifer played with the West Bromwich Youth Orchestra and the Midland Youth Orchestra, (now known as the CBSO youth orchestra) with its charismatic founder conductor Blyth Major (CBSO General Manager at the time). In adult life Jenifer played with various orchestras, including some years with the Birmingham Philharmonic. Jenifer followed a career in the Insurance Industry, where she met her husband Roy. Following career moves to Wales and later back to the Midlands, they settled in Stourport on Severn, and Jenifer joined the Wyre Forest Symphony Orchestra. When children Laura and Giles were small, Jenifer decided on a career change and became a peripatetic violin teacher for Worcestershire Instrumental Music Service, and also in the private sector. Now retired and living in Bromsgrove, Jenifer's present musical commitments include membership of the Chandos Symphony Orchestra, which gives regular performances in Malvern.
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Leader
Jenifer Smith |