He is a composer, record producer, arranger, editor and choral conductor born in London, England, who’s father was a scientist and his grandfather and engineer so music wasn’t outwardly inherent in the family.
He was educated at Highgate School with John Tavener and then studied music at Clare College, Cambridge where he was an organ scholar and then director of music from 1975 to 1979.
In 1981 he founded his own choir, The Cambridge Singers, which he conducts and with whom he has made many recordings of sacred choral works and his own compositions. Although he still lives near Cambridge he frequently conducts other choirs and orchestras around the world.
In 1980 he was made an Honorary Fellow of Westminster Choir College and Princeton and in 1988 a Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians. In 1996 the Archbishop of Canterbury conferred a Lambeth Doctorate of Music on him for his contribution to church music. In 2007 he was awarded a CBE for his services to music.
He stated to 60 Minutes that he was not a deeply religious man but inspired by the spiritualness of sacred verses and prayers. His compositions include choral music, Christmas carols, anthem, the opera for young people called Bang! and Mass for Children which he composed after the untimely death of his son, Christopher, while a student. His work is mainly published by his own company, Collegium.
Cambridge Singers recordings
Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor/Arranger – John Rutter
Away in a Manger (William J.Kirkpatrick/ James Ramsey Murray)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor/Arranger – John Rutter
In Dulci Jubilo (German Traditional/Henry Suso)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor – John Rutter
Arranger/translator: Robert Lucas Pearsall
Clare College Singers and Orchestra recordings
Angel Tidings (Traditional Moravian)
EMI 69950 (CD: Carols from Clare)
Arranger and conductor –
Once in Royal David’s City (Cecil Alexander & Henry Gauntlett)
EMI 69950 (CD: Carols from Clare)
Conductor – John Rutter
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