AN inspirational musician who worked closely with both the Bournemouth Sinfonietta and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has died.

George Hurst had a great interest in nurturing young talent and regularly auditioned assistant conductors during his tenure, founding the conductor’s course at Canford Summer School of Music half a century ago.

Maxime Tortelier, the BSO’s new young conductor in association, was one of his former pupils at the Royal Academy of Music.

Before his time with the BSO, Mr Hurst was principal conductor of BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, now the BBC Philharmonic, and was largely credited with the development of this orchestra’s reputation.

Mr Hurst conducted the majority of the UK’s orchestras and was also engaged to rebuild and develop National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in 1990, becoming principal conductor. He shunned publicity and once said: “To retain personal freedom one must never get too involved with the rat-race.”

Paying tribute to “a good friend and great musician,” Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra chief executive Dougie Scarfe said: “Maestro Hurst was heavily involved in the formation and establishment of the Bournemouth Sinfonietta in the late ‘60s, which quickly became a major orchestral force in the south and south west, and contributed much in his subsequent role as artistic advisor to both the Sinfonietta and BSO for many years.”

Born in Edinburgh to a Romanian father and Russian mother, Mr Hurst lived in Poole, near Coy Pond. He is survived by his wife Denise Ham, daughter Miranda and grandson Jeremy James.