Orchestral Leader
Eileen Butterworth - 2019 : Present
Our leader: Eileen Butterworth BA (Hons) ATCL ARSM
Eileen was born and raised in Huddersfield. Her two Great-Uncles were both professional violinists playing in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for many years, her Uncle Joseph as the leader.
Eileen started learning the Violin at the age of eight, taking lessons first with Mrs Ballantyne, then George Brown. She joined the Huddersfield Primary Youth Orchestra at the age of ten and became the leader. Progressing through the Transitional, Junior and Intermediate Youth Orchestras, Eileen joined the Senior Youth Orchestra at the age of fifteen, eventually becoming its leader. At the age of fifteen she passed Grade 8 violin with distinction.
After O levels Eileen’s musical education continued when she attended what was then Huddersfield School of Music to do A levels and a music degree, studying violin under Herbert Whone and piano with Ron Newton. She was the Symphony Orchestra’s leader for two years.
After a number of years in business, Eileen completed a PGCE at Bretton Hall College and has taught music in a number of schools, most recently as Head of Music in a Kirklees Secondary School.
Eileen is a Senior GCSE and A level music examiner for a leading awarding organisation. She has taught violin and piano privately in the past but doesn’t have any pupils at the moment. She has passed two performing diplomas: ATCL and ARSM with distinction in November 2020.
Eileen has had a wide variety of orchestral playing experience, including Leeds College of Music Symphony Orchestra, The Northern Concert Orchestra, Halifax Symphony Orchestra and The
Orchestra of Square Chapel. She joined Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013 and has been its leader since December 2019
Past Leaders
2015 - 2019 - Emily Sharratt
2010 – 2015 - Mary Barber
1988 – 2010 - Mary Rafferty
1982 – 1988 - Marjorie Glendinning
Previous – 1982 - Madame Margaret Binns