Conductor and Arranger Robin White has Died, Aged 73

White made extensive recordings of light music and appeared on the British TV show EastEnders

The British conductor and arranger Robin White has passed away at the age of 73.

White initially studied at Imperial College and the Royal College of Music in London, where he learned conducting from Vernon Handley and orchestration from Bryan Kelly.

Throughout the 1980s, he conducted the Philharmonia of Bristol — during which he worked with soloists such as John Lill, Robert Tear, Alexander Baillie, and Emma Johnson, in major concertos and other works.

In 1992, White made a recording of Edwardian light music with his own Southern Festival Orchestra on the Chandos label. Following this success, the Silva Classics label invited White to record Noel Coward’s original ballet scores with the City of Prague Philharmonic.

His other recordings include Music for a Royal Wedding and The Perfect Fool for Classic Fox Records, and Nunc Dimittis (a disc of Russian sacred choral music) for Claudio Records.

In 2002, White appeared in a famous episode of the British TV soap opera EastEnders, in which he conducted his own choir, Alban Voices.

White also worked extensively as an arranger, and his work was regularly broadcast by BBC orchestras in light-music programs on BBC Radio 2. It was also featured by the Australian Pops Orchestra in a live concert in Melbourne.

Our condolences to White's family, friends, and colleagues.