John Saunders

John Saunders (1867 – 7 October 1919) was a British musician, who led the Royal Philharmonic Society's Orchestra, and performed in the South Place Sunday Concerts for 27 years.

Life Saunders studied the violin under John Tiplady Carrodus at the Guildhall School of Music. These included explanatory talks alongside performances by well-respected musicians, intended to cultivate an enthusiasm for classical music among a younger audience.

During the summer before he died, Saunders led the orchestra of the Russian Ballet at the Alhambra Theatre.

Death and legacy John Saunders died on 7 October 1919.

After his death, the following tribute was printed on the South Place concert programme:During half his life, and almost the whole of his artistic career, he devoted himself unsparingly to the South Place Concerts. How he helped them may be gathered to some extent from the fact that he played at 239, nearly a third of the 791 given... No artist has been more thorough and unselfish in fostering the love of chamber music, and a mere list of the works in which he played would be a very long one. All connected with the South Place Concerts will ever remember that to him, more than anyone else, is due the artistic success which has been achieved, and which it is hoped will be continued. To see that this standard is maintained, and to endeavour to reach his ideals, will surely be the best tribute to his memory. A portrait of Saunders hangs in Conway Hall, London.