Gavyn Wright

Gavyn Wright is a London-based violinist. He is one of the most in-demand orchestra contractors and session concertmasters (in British parlance, leaders) for pop, rock, and soundtrack recording projects. He typically chooses from a pool of string players from the many top London symphony and opera house orchestras, choosing highly trained and precise musicians who can adapt to the various styles of music. One of his earliest session jobs was for Pavlov's Dog in 1976. Soundtracks whose orchestra he has contracted and led (i.e., been principal first violinist or concertmaster) include The Peacemaker by Hans Zimmer and The Fifth Element, by Eric Serra. His popular and rock work is also eclectic. Japanese pop star Chisato Moritaka's eighth album, Rock Alive, includes cuts with sessions staffed by Wright's musicians, billed there as "Gavyn Strings". He has also worked with Brian Kennedy, Paul Carrack (on Blue Views), Maxi Priest (Fe Real) and Van Morrison (Hymns to the Silence). He also backed Italian pop soprano Filippa Giordano's innovative treatment of Romantic opera arias as well as more standard pop fare on her self-titled Erato release in 2000. One of his most unusual collaborations was with Geoff Smith, a British composer who describes himself as "half rock, half classical." Wright organized and led the string section that was added to the regular Geoff Smith Band when Smith wanted to produce a more symphonic rock/classical project, entitled "Black Rowers."