Susan Thornton
In 1974, my twin sister Jayne and I began our studies at Guildhall. We were seventeen and full of excitement at the prospect of what lay ahead. My first year with Yona was both thrilling and challenging. It seemed that my embouchure needed sorting out and so the first few months were spent locked up in an assortment of practice rooms playing long notes for hour upon hour. Once I had achieved the kind of velvety tone I never thought was possible, I was off and my musical life had truly begun. Saturday Master Classes were daunting to start with, but soon became the highlight of my week. Being part of chamber groups and finally the Symphony Orchestra under Yona’s baton was the pinnacle of my time at Guildhall. The best years of my life came to an end in 1978 when I said goodbye to Yona – not knowing that I would never see him again.
In 1978, I married fellow student Hugh Seenan (French horn) and settled down to married life in Raynes Park. In 1980 we moved to Glasgow when he took up the position of principle horn with the SNO. Rebecca was born in 1981 followed thirteen months later by Andrew. Whilst in Scotland I played with Scottish Opera and took on some teaching work. In 1984 we moved back down to London when Hugh was offered the job of principle horn with the LSO. I took on some private pupils and subsequently spent 7 years as a peripatetic teacher for the London Borough of Barnet. Hugh and I were divorced in 1988. I married my second husband in 1989 and we moved down to the south coast. I had another son in 1995. Thomas is now 16 years old and has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. He has been unable to attend school for the last 4 years because there were no suitable special needs schools in the county and so he has been tutored at home. I worked for a time as a peri for West Sussex but fitting work in with the demands of Thomas became too difficult, so I have returned to some private teaching at home. I have played with various amateur orchestras over the years and have never stopped enjoying the sheer magic of making music.
My musical life hasn’t quite panned out the way I had hoped but I will be forever grateful for my 4 years of study with Yona. They really were the most magical and special years of my life and I miss him still.
Student of Yona Ettlinger: 1974-1977
In 1978, I married fellow student Hugh Seenan (French horn) and settled down to married life in Raynes Park. In 1980 we moved to Glasgow when he took up the position of principle horn with the SNO. Rebecca was born in 1981 followed thirteen months later by Andrew. Whilst in Scotland I played with Scottish Opera and took on some teaching work. In 1984 we moved back down to London when Hugh was offered the job of principle horn with the LSO. I took on some private pupils and subsequently spent 7 years as a peripatetic teacher for the London Borough of Barnet. Hugh and I were divorced in 1988. I married my second husband in 1989 and we moved down to the south coast. I had another son in 1995. Thomas is now 16 years old and has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome. He has been unable to attend school for the last 4 years because there were no suitable special needs schools in the county and so he has been tutored at home. I worked for a time as a peri for West Sussex but fitting work in with the demands of Thomas became too difficult, so I have returned to some private teaching at home. I have played with various amateur orchestras over the years and have never stopped enjoying the sheer magic of making music.
My musical life hasn’t quite panned out the way I had hoped but I will be forever grateful for my 4 years of study with Yona. They really were the most magical and special years of my life and I miss him still.
Student of Yona Ettlinger: 1974-1977