Maurice James Handford was a British horn player and conductor born on 29 April 1928 in Salisbury. He established his professional reputation as the principal horn of the Hallé Orchestra, a position he held from 1949 to 1961. Following his tenure as a musician, Handford transitioned into conducting and served as the associate conductor for the Hallé Orchestra between 1966 and 1971. He later continued his association with the ensemble as a staff conductor. Recognized for his contributions to the British orchestral tradition, Handford was a respected figure in the mid-twentieth-century classical music scene. His career was characterized by a long-term commitment to the Hallé Orchestra, where he moved from the wind section to the conductor's podium. Handford died in Warminster on 16 December 1986.
