Kevin Hill  (10 May 1962 - 12 January 2020) studied viola and piano at the Royal College of Music. In 1984 he joined the Hallé Orchestra, playing viola for a year. Since then he has appeared regularly with many orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra and has appeared as guest-principal viola with the Orchestra of St. John’s Smith Square and for a number of years with the orchestra of London City Ballet.

He completed a post-graduate course at the Royal College of Music in 1988, having been awarded the RCM Conducting Scholarship, studying with Norman Del Mar. He has conducted the English Northern Philharmonia, Young Musicians’ Symphony Orchestra (YMSO), Merseyside Youth Orchestra, also the Edinburgh University Chamber Orchestra on a concert tour of the Republic of Ireland. From 1984 he regularly conducted rehearsals for the YMSO and acted as off-stage conductor for performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Strauss’ Alpine Symphony, at London’s Royal Festival Hall. He prepared YMSO for concerts and tours conducted by Serge Baudo and Lord Menuhin. 

In June 2000 he was awarded the MBE, for services to Music, in The Queen’s Birthday Honours.