Rodney Friend is recognised internationally as one of the most outstanding English violinists.  As a soloist, chamber musician, concertmaster, director and teacher he has appeared worldwide with the greatest musicians of the last 45 years.  He made his London début playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Hallé Orchestra and his American début playing the Benjamin Britten Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.  He has performed extensively as a concert soloist with major orchestras in Europe, North and South America, Scandinavia and the Far East under such conductors as Haitink, Barbirolli, Mehta, Leinsdorf, Solti, Giulini, Davis and Boult.  Amongst his many recordings, his performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra of the Britten and Bach Violin Concertos have received the highest critical acclaim.

In 1991 he formed the Solomon Trio with whom he toured Europe extensively, playing at such venues as La Scala, Milan, as well as recording much of the great Trio repertoire for Carlton Records.  It is, however, as a concertmaster where his experience and reputation are legendary.  In 1964 he became the youngest ever Leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, working closely with Bernard Haitink, Barenboim, Solti and Giulini.  In 1975 he received a unique honour for a British player when he was invited by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to be their Leader, playing concerts and recording worldwide with Bernstein, Boulez and Mehta.  It is with these two orchestras that he recorded almost the entire orchestral repertoire.

On his return to London he became Leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Rozhdestvensky.  At the same time he was appointed a senior lecturer and consultant of the violin at the Royal College of Music where he formed and directed the RCM String Ensemble, touring and performing regularly with many great artists.  Since 1990 he has worked solely in the areas of teaching, solo and chamber music performances, travelling regularly as a professor and jury member at International Violin Competitions.  His students continue to achieve success in all areas of violin playing.

In 2006 the first two volumes of his book, The Orchestral Violinist, were published by Boosey and Hawkes.  They received universal acclaim as being the most important works so far produced in this discipline.  He plays a Joseph Guarnerius violin, dating from 1696.