Church Music

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Church-Based Work

I have been a church organist for many years. I took a Grade 8 in organ performance some years ago and followed it with the Archbishops’ Certificate in Church Music when I studied liturgy, church music history, and took the practical examination for Choir training and choral accompaniment. My practical exam was with the Choir of St Paul’s Shipley (Shipley Parish Church, West Yorkshire). I have had recent tuition from the RCO Organ school. From September 2016 until Christmas 2017 I was Organist & Choir Director at St Mark's Church, Natland near Kendal. I stopped work there following a house move to the north of Cumbria. I am currently acting as a "locum" organist covering churches in NE Cumbria and W Northumberland.

Pictured below: playing the organ at Hexham Abbey, Northumberland as part of an RCO training day

I can offer the following services:

Organist for church services
Organist for weddings and funerals (if the resident organist agrees)

Background Information

Prior to my post at Natland, I was Organist at Grasmere from May 2011 to June 2016, and before that a “locum” organist in Cumbria. From 2000 to 2005 I was organist of both Bothal and Longhirst churches in Northumberland. My previous substantive post was Organist and Director of Music at Shipley Parish Church (St Paul’s) in Yorkshire where I ran an all-age Choir, oversaw the instrumental group and developed a pre-school music club called “The Churpies”.

I have also given occasional organ recitals, but I am not currently offering this while I am undertaking further study. I have also played for Choral evensong on two separate occasions at Durham Cathedral when I accompanied a school chamber choir in 2002 and 2003.

I have enjoyed playing some very fine church organs for pleasure over the years – including those at Lincoln Minster, York Minster, Beverley Minster, Durham Cathedral and St Giles’ Edinburgh. I have also played organs in Salzburg Cathedral and St Francois-de-Sales, Lyon.