Belgium mourns its African conductor
mainThe estimable Georges Octors, former music director of the Belgian National Orchestra, died on June 18 at the age of 97.
He was, for many years, the public face of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, conducting the final rounds with great sympathy for the contestants.
The son of a Congolese mother and Belgian father, born in the former colony in 1923, he won the Vieuxtemps prize in 1941 and taught violin for much of his life at the Royal Conservatories of Ghent and Brussels.
I was indeed saddened to learn that George Octors had passed away. I was very fortunate to meet him in August 1984 when I attended an American organised Course for String Performers and Teachers in Brussels. He directed the String Orchestra as well as performing. He was a wonderful violinist. George had a very engaging and charming personality