Kenneth Beard
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Bernard Beard MA BA(Hons) FRCO CHM (9 June 1927, Royton
, Lancashire
– 9 July 2010) was an English Cathedral Organist.
, Bath, and studied at the University of Manchester
and the Royal Manchester College of Music
from 1946 to 1949.
After Manchester, he was organ scholar of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
,
He was also made a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists
in 1949, and gained a Choirmaster diploma in 1954.
During his time in Tenbury, he commissioned the anthem “Antiphon” from Benjamin Britten
and conducted the first performance on 29 September 1956 in the presence of the composer.
At Southwell he was not only the organist of the Minster, but also head of Music of Southwell Minster School
.
He was awarded the Cross of St Augustine by Rowan Williams
, Archbishop of Canterbury
, in 2008 in recognition of his service to church music.
Royton
Royton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies by the source of the River Irk, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines, north-northwest of Oldham, south-southeast of Rochdale and northeast of the city of Manchester.Historically a...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
– 9 July 2010) was an English Cathedral Organist.
Education
He attended Kingswood SchoolKingswood School
Kingswood School, referred to as 'Kingswood', is an independent day and boarding school located in Bath, Somerset, England. The school is coeducational and educates some 950 children aged 3 to 18. It is notable for being founded by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in 1748...
, Bath, and studied at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and the Royal Manchester College of Music
Royal Manchester College of Music
The Royal Manchester College of Music was founded in 1893 by Sir Charles Hallé who assumed the role as Principal. For a long period of time Hallé had argued for Manchester's need for a conservatoire to properly train the local talent. The Ducie Street building, just off Oxford Road, was purchased...
from 1946 to 1949.
After Manchester, he was organ scholar of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
,
He was also made a Fellow 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...
in 1949, and gained a Choirmaster diploma in 1954.
Career
He was:- Organist of St. Michael's College, TenburySt. Michael's College, TenburyThe College of St. Michael and All Angels, in Tenbury Wells Worcestershire was a boys school founded by Frederick Ouseley in 1856 to provide a model for the performance of Anglican church music. Choral services were performed daily in term time, and the college possessed a library that contained...
1952 – 1959 - Rector Chori of Southwell MinsterSouthwell MinsterSouthwell 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...
1959 - 1988 - Organist of St Mary's Church, MoldSt Mary's Church, MoldSt Mary's Church, Mold is an Anglican church in Flintshire, Wales and a Grade I listed building. It is an active parish church in the deanery of Mold, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph. The church has historical associations with the Stanley family, Earls of Derby and...
During his time in Tenbury, he commissioned the anthem “Antiphon” from Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
and conducted the first performance on 29 September 1956 in the presence of the composer.
At Southwell he was not only the organist of the Minster, but also head of Music of Southwell Minster School
Southwell Minster School
Southwell Minster School often mistaken for a private institution, is a state funded comprehensive school in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. Its first recorded Schoolmaster was Henry de Hykeling in 1313. It gets the amongst the best GCSE results in Nottinghamshire , beaten only by two West...
.
He was awarded the Cross of St Augustine by Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, in 2008 in recognition of his service to church music.