Andrew Nethsingha
Encyclopedia
Andrew Nethsingha MA, FRCO
, ARCM
, is an English choral conductor and organist. He is Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge
, where he was previously Organ Scholar. He was also President of the Cathedral Organists' Association. He has performed in the UK, North America, South Africa, China and many European countries.
His early musical training was as a chorister in Exeter Cathedral
, where his father Lucian Nethsingha
was Organist for over quarter of a century. He later studied at the Royal College of Music
, where he won seven prizes, and at St John's College, Cambridge
. He has held Organ Scholarships under Dr Christopher Robinson (musician)
at St George's Chapel, Windsor and Dr George Guest
, both of whom were Organist and Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge
. Having held the post of assistant organist at Wells Cathedral
, in 1994 Nethsingha had eight years as Master of the Choristers and Organist at Truro Cathedral
, becoming the youngest cathedral organist in the country. During this period the reputation of the choir increased considerably. He succeeded David Briggs at Gloucester Cathedral
in 2002 (whom he had also followed at Truro), and also held the artistic directorship of the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival
and the conductorship of Gloucester Choral Society.
He has worked regularly with some of the UK's leading orchestras. Performances with the Philharmonia
have included Britten War Requiem, Mahler Symphony no. 8 and Elgar The Kingdom as well as a programme of Vaughan Williams and Finzi broadcast on BBC Radio 3. His most recent performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
have included George Gershwin
's An American in Paris
and Elgar Sea Pictures. He has also worked with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
and BBC Concert Orchestra
and conducted a performance of Handel's Messiah in Beijing.
Royal College of Organists
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
, ARCM
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, is an English choral conductor and organist. He is Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, where he was previously Organ Scholar. He was also President of the Cathedral Organists' Association. He has performed in the UK, North America, South Africa, China and many European countries.
His early musical training was as a chorister in Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
, where his father Lucian Nethsingha
Lucian Nethsingha
Lucian Nethsingha was an English cathedral organist, who served in Exeter Cathedral.-Background:Lucian Nethsingha was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and educated at St. Thomas' College, Colombo...
was Organist for over quarter of a century. He later studied at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, where he won seven prizes, and at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. He has held Organ Scholarships under Dr Christopher Robinson (musician)
Christopher Robinson (musician)
Christopher John Robinson CVO CBE is a British conductor and organist. After being organ scholar at Christ Church, Oxford he worked as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Worcester Cathedral. In 1974 he became Organist and Choirmaster at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle a position he held...
at St George's Chapel, Windsor and Dr George Guest
George Guest
George Guest was a Welsh organist and choral conductor.- Birth and early life :George Guest was born in Bangor, Wales. His father was an organist, and George assisted him by acting as organ blower. He became a chorister at Bangor Cathedral, and subsequently at Chester Cathedral, where he...
, both of whom were Organist and Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. Having held the post of assistant organist at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
, in 1994 Nethsingha had eight years as Master of the Choristers and Organist at Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
, becoming the youngest cathedral organist in the country. During this period the reputation of the choir increased considerably. He succeeded David Briggs at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
in 2002 (whom he had also followed at Truro), and also held the artistic directorship of the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
and the conductorship of Gloucester Choral Society.
He has worked regularly with some of the UK's leading orchestras. Performances with the Philharmonia
Philharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
have included Britten War Requiem, Mahler Symphony no. 8 and Elgar The Kingdom as well as a programme of Vaughan Williams and Finzi broadcast on BBC Radio 3. His most recent performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
have included George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's An American in Paris
An American in Paris
An American in Paris is a symphonic tone poem by the American composer George Gershwin, written in 1928. Inspired by the time Gershwin had spent in Paris, it evokes the sights and energy of the French capital in the 1920s. It is one of Gershwin's best-known compositions.Gershwin composed the piece...
and Elgar Sea Pictures. He has also worked with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
and BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
and conducted a performance of Handel's Messiah in Beijing.