Biography
Geoffrey Bridge was born in Accrington, Lancashire, the son of professional musicians.
After a period of medical training at St Andrews University he studied the oboe at the Royal College of Music with Peter Graeme continuing with Léon Goossens, Jock Sutcliffe and later classes with Heinz Holliger and Maurice Bourgue. He studied conducting with Sir Adrian Boult.
Following his professional recital debut in the Manchester Midday Concert series of 1962 Geoffrey became a solo artist for the Arts Council of Great Britain. He has broadcast solo and chamber music recitals on BBC radio and made solo appearances on both independent television and radio.
Geoffrey has worked as a freelance player with many orchestras, including the BBC Welsh Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Southern Pro Musica Orchestra, and has given recitals throughout Great Britain. He is currently Orchestral Manager of the Southern Pro Musica. He has appeared in Music Festivals including those held in Aberdeen, Bath, Belfast, Canterbury, City of London, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Petersfield, Perth, Portsmouth, Ruthven, Stour (Kent) and Winchester. Since moving to Scotland he has given recitals in castles and country houses with the late George Donald, of "Scotland the What?" fame.
He is principal oboe with the Aberdeen Sinfonietta, The City of Perth Sinfonia, the Heisenberg Ensemble and for the Britten Chamber Opera Series for Byre Opera in St Andrews and on tour.
In March 2003, with the assistance of the Rutland Boughton Trust, he gave the first professional performance since its premiere by Leon Goossens in 1943, of Rutland Boughton’s second oboe concerto. This took place in Chichester Cathedral with the Southern Pro Music Orchestra, led by Roger Garland and conducted by Jonathan Willcocks.
Teaching has always been an integral part of his work and after teaching in Aberdeenshire in the sixties he moved to England, became Head of Woodwind Teaching for Hampshire County Council and eventually Deputy Head of the Hampshire Music Service. Before returning to Scotland in September 2003 he taught the oboe at Winchester College. He continues to play professionally, conduct and coach at Summer Schools. Presently he is Director of the Winchester Summer Music course held annually.
Currently Chairman of the British Double Reed Society he is also involved in writing on Double Reed matters. He has hosted a problems page for the Australasian Double Reed Society and has been involved with the AllExperts internet site for a number of years answering over a 1500 questions on oboe-related matters.