I wanted to express my personal sorrow that one of my mentors, the cellist Lynn Harrell died a few days ago. I was a 19 year old student at the Royal Academy of Music when I auditioned for him, along with many others around the world, for a scholarship to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Institute. Every summer for 5 years I played concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, had lessons with soloists like Itzhak Perlman and Anne-Sophie Mutter, played endless chamber music concerts around California and had the immense privilege to lead the orchestra in concerts at the Hollywood Bowl under composer heroes like John Williams and John Adams. Playing chamber music with him late into the Californian evening was one of my life’s fondest memories. Without that chance he gave me, I doubt my relationship with Los Angeles would have happened; it started my love affair with Hollywood and hell, without him, I may have lived a very different life. He possessed an extreme love of music and people and was one of my greatest influences; he will be sorely missed. – Darrell Alexander (April 2020)