Flute influencer, RIP
RIPWe are saddened to hear of the death from cancer of Atarah Ben-Tovim, an enthusiat who left an indelible impression on thousands of children.
Principal flute of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic from 1963, she broke away in 1975 to found Atarah’s Band, an ensemble geared to engaging young audiences in the process of making music. She believed every child could play music. By the time she wound up the band, she had engaged with three million people.
In later years she ran workshops in France.
One of her books is titled: You Can Make Music: It’s Never Too Late to Start
She was described by Edward Greenfield in the Guardian as “one of the finest flautists of her generation”. Always a larger than life figure, I remember an excellent Mozart G major with the RLPO and trio concerts with their fine principal oboe Keith Wood and keyboard player Rosemary Beckett (Leon Goossens’ accompanist of choice when in the northwest).
RIP Atarah, inspiration for so many, and an example for all professionals to follow.Our privilege as performers comes with the responsibility to “pass it on”.Atarah did this with personality and style.