Andrew Parnell
Encyclopedia
Andrew Parnell is an organist
and harpsichord
ist.
As a boy Parnell was a choral scholar at Southwell Minster
, where he began organ studies under Kenneth Beard
. He won the Organ Scholarship at Christ's College, Cambridge
aged 19 and studied under Nicolas Kynaston. He was awarded the Fellowship Diploma of the Royal College of Organists
aged 19 and won the Limpus and Shinn prizes in that year's FRCO diploma examinations.
After a spell as Director of Music at St James's Church, Cambridge, he moved to St Albans
in 1976 as Assistant Master of the Music to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
, appointed by Peter Hurford
. He was also appointed Master of Music and choirmaster at St Albans School
. He founded St Albans Abbey Girls' Choir in 1996, which is now a regular part of the worshipping community. From 1983 to 2001 he conducted St Albans Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, after 25 years in St Albans, he moved to Norfolk for a few years, but has subsequently returned to live in St Albans where he is pursuing his freelance organist and recording career.
He is a trustee of the New School of Organ Studies
in recordings and radio and television broadcasts and has also accompanied Norwich Cathedral
Girls' Choir on tour in Holland, deputised as Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster
and at the Cathedrals of Ely
, Canterbury
and Wakefield
, and is conductor of Ely
Choral Society, principal conductor of Cambridgeshire Choral Society and Wymondham
Symphony Orchestra. He has also made numerous solo recordings on the organ
and harpsichord.
He is also frequently heard directing or accompanying the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4
, and has accompanied the BBC Singers on BBC Radio 3
.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist.
As a boy Parnell was a choral scholar at Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
, where he began organ studies under Kenneth Beard
Kenneth Beard
Kenneth Bernard Beard MA BA FRCO CHM was an English Cathedral Organist.-Education:...
. He won the Organ Scholarship at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
aged 19 and studied under Nicolas Kynaston. He was awarded the Fellowship Diploma of the Royal College of Organists
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...
aged 19 and won the Limpus and Shinn prizes in that year's FRCO diploma examinations.
After a spell as Director of Music at St James's Church, Cambridge, he moved to St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
in 1976 as Assistant Master of the Music to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
, appointed by Peter Hurford
Peter Hurford
Peter Hurford OBE is a British organist, born St Cecilia's day 1930 in Minehead, Somerset.Educated at Blundell's School, he later studied both music and law at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating with dual degrees, subsequently obtaining an enviable reputation for both musical scholarship and...
. He was also appointed Master of Music and choirmaster at St Albans School
St Albans School (Hertfordshire)
St Albans School is an independent school in the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, in the East of England. Entry before Sixth Form is for boys only, and co-educational thereafter. Founded in 948 by Wulsin , St Albans School is not only the oldest school in Hertfordshire but also one of the oldest...
. He founded St Albans Abbey Girls' Choir in 1996, which is now a regular part of the worshipping community. From 1983 to 2001 he conducted St Albans Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, after 25 years in St Albans, he moved to Norfolk for a few years, but has subsequently returned to live in St Albans where he is pursuing his freelance organist and recording career.
He is a trustee of the New School of Organ Studies
Recording and performing career
Parnell has accompanied St Albans Cathedral ChoirSt Albans Cathedral Choir
St. Albans Cathedral Choir is an English Cathedral Choir based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It is made up of around 25 boy choristers aged 7–14 and 12 adult Lay Clerks...
in recordings and radio and television broadcasts and has also accompanied Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
Girls' Choir on tour in Holland, deputised as Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
and at the Cathedrals of Ely
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
, Canterbury
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
and Wakefield
Wakefield Cathedral
Wakefield Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of All Saints Wakefield is the cathedral for the Church of England's Diocese of Wakefield and is the seat of the Bishop of Wakefield. The cathedral has Anglo Saxon origins and the tallest cathedral spire in Yorkshire...
, and is conductor of Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
Choral Society, principal conductor of Cambridgeshire Choral Society and Wymondham
Wymondham
Wymondham is a historic market town and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It lies 9.5 miles to the south west of the city of Norwich, on the A11 road to Thetford and London.- Before The Great Fire :...
Symphony Orchestra. He has also made numerous solo recordings on the organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
and harpsichord.
He is also frequently heard directing or accompanying the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, and has accompanied the BBC Singers on BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
.
External links
- Andrew Parnell at Michael Harrold artist management
- St Albans Symphony Orchestra http://www.saso.org.uk
- Cambridgeshire Choral Society http://www.cambschoralsoc.org.uk/