Christine Pendrill

While studying the oboe at the RCM, Christine discovered an affinity with the cor anglais
which informed her lifelong career. With the encouragement of her professor, Michael
Winfield, she began to freelance with the London orchestras while still a student.

In 1980, she was invited to become the Principal Cor Anglais player of the Philharmonia Orchestra,
a position she held for five years until she moved to the London Symphony Orchestra in
the same capacity. At that time, she was one of only a handful of women in the LSO, (a
situation now happily rectified), and in 1986 became the first woman to be elected by the
players to the Board of Directors, fulfilling a three year term.

During Christine's many years as a member of the LSO, she played for some of the world's
greatest conductors and recorded most of the major orchestral solos. In 1996, she gave
the first performance of 'The World's Ransoming' a concertante work written for her and
the LSO by James MacMillan. After many further performances, she recorded the work
with Sir Colin Davis and the LSO for LSO Live.

Christine has taught at the RCM for some years. After retiring from the LSO in June 2022,
she now devotes her time to introducing oboe students to the joys of playing the cor
anglais.

Faculties / departments: Woodwind

---

Contact