When Alan Broadbent arrived in Rugby, Warwickshire, in 1968, aged 22, as the new string teacher at Rugby school, he galvanised the town’s musical life. With missionary zeal, Alan not only began teaching in the school but also took on the first of what would be hundreds of private pupils. My husband and I were among his earliest pupils and, like others, were captivated by his charisma and passion for music. He was demanding of both technique and commitment; but these were demands his pupils were ready to meet.
Alan, who has died aged 73, found teaching irresistible (he would give a violin lesson or instruction on some fine point of musical theory even to a casual passerby), and before long dozens of young people were eager to be part of something bigger. In 1972 he and Martin Jackson, head of music at Lawrence Sheriff school, set up the Rugby Area Schools Orchestra, followed in 1973 by Rugby Sinfonia, a string ensemble that still thrives today.
Following a reunion of past and present pupils in 1998 to mark 25 years, we have got together every year. The gathering, more than one hundred strong, is now called Stringfest, an event in which professionals play alongside young people; Alan conducted, encouraged, knew and inspired all of us.
He was born in Gloucester, one of four sons of Harold Broadbent, a textile agent for the wool industry, and his wife, Olive. Music was central to their family life, and three of the four brothers attended the Royal Academy of Music. Two of them, Stephen and Nigel, decided to perform, and Alan to teach. His first job was at Rugby, in 1968; in that year, too, he married Jenny Smith.
In 1974 Alan and Jenny began running residential music courses for their pupils in Wales, the Broads and Venice. We played on beaches, on boats and in churches. Their home was always open, welcoming and dynamic. Their children, now all professional musicians, were always part of the mix, precocious performers from a young age and as generous and enthusiastic as their parents.
Many of Alan’s pupils went on to play professionally, but he always said his badge of honour was the many more of us for whom music became central to our lives.
It is hard to imagine a world without Alan, and to think of Rugby without his energetic presence. But none of those who knew him will forget his inspiration, vision and tenderness towards every person he encountered.
Alan is survived by Jenny, their children, Giles, Ralph, Sophie and Neal, two grandchildren and two step-grandchildren, and by his brother Nigel. Two of his brothers, Julian and Stephen, predeceased him; a son, Andrew, died in infancy.
