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Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, he began playing the violin at the age of six under the guidance of his father, an amateur violinist, and later went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London. One year in Paris completed the fifteen years of studies with altogether four teachers; Vanna Brown, Joan Rochford-Davies, Frederick Grinke and Rene Benedetti.
Whilst with Frederick Grinke he won the Queens Prize, the Gulbenkian Award, and was awarded the Dove Prize, and was elected a FRAM in 1972, and a FGSM in 1976.
He was Leader (Concertmaster) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1965, and the London Symphony Orchestra from 1965 to 1973, and 1976 to 1979.
1972 saw the formation of the London Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra of which he is a founder member and Music Director.
As soloist, he gave the first English performance of the Menotti concerto, and the first London performance of the Bartok No.1 concerto. In January 1976, in the composers presence, he recorded the Bliss concerto with the BBCSO, and later that year the Moeran with the LSO.
An interest in conducting started during the three absent years, 1973 to 1976, when John left the LSO "temporarily" and began conducting youth orchestras and directing Viennese concerts "from the violin". Also during this period, he performed more than 250 recitals throughout the UK, under the title of "Virtuoso and Gipsy Violin", many pieces of which he has recorded. Also the Georgiadis/Peebles Duo with pianist Antony Peebles was formed, which has since toured extensively, including Arabia 1988 and 1999, and New Zealand and Australia 1991, 1994 and 1999.
During eight years from 1978, he gave all his available non-working time to studying conducting and Phenomenology of Music with Maestro Sergei Celibidache, and has now conducted throughout the world many of the leading orchestras.
A strong interest in 'working with youth' has meant conducting, coaching and teaching connections with the Guildhall School of Music, Royal Academy of Music, and various youth orchestras, and from 1989 to 1992 he returned to the Royal Academy, but now as "Director of Orchestral Studies and Artistic Director of the RAM Symphony Orchestra".
From October 1987 to November 1990, and running concurrently with his conducting career, he took over the first violin seat of the well-known Gabrieli String Quartet, whose long association with Essex University culminated in July 1990 in his receiving the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University.
Other Chamber Music activities included the London Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble, formed in 1972 with LSO colleagues, James Galway-flute, Anthony Camden-oboe and Douglas Cummings-cello, plus Brian Hawkins-viola, David Lumsden-harpsichord and Jane Ryan-gamba. After several recordings on the Abbey label, the group evolved into the London Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, with John Directing from the Leader's seat. The LVCO became internationally known for it's many foreign tours and fine recordings on the Naxos label.
On leaving the LSO in 1979, and following the years of study with Celibidache, it was obvious that there would be a gradual movement away from playing the violin to conducting, and consequently he has since enjoyed the position of Music Director with the London Virtuosi since 1972, the Bristol Sinfonia, 1982 to 1984 and the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 1996.
