Director of Music - David Poulter
David Poulter was born in Kent and educated at The Kings School, Rochester and at The Royal College of Music, London where he was a Foundation Scholar and Walford Davies prize-winner. He was also awarded the coveted Limpus and Frederick Shinn prizes at the Royal College of Organists. He is a Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music and holds the organ and choir training diplomas of The Royal College of Organists, The Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians in 2008.
After five years as Assistant Organist at Rochester Cathedral, further study at London University, and some years teaching at Cranbrook School and Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School as Head of Music, David went to Coventry Cathedral in 1990, first as Assistant Organist and ultimately as Director of Music. During his time in Coventry, he founded the Cathedral Girls’ Choir consisting of 50 singers aged 8 – 16 years. He also initiated a course in Church Music at Coventry University.
David was then appointed Organist and Director of Music at Chester Cathedral in April 1997, following a succession of distinguished organists dating from Robert Whyte in the 16th century to John Sanders and Roger Fisher in the 20th century. Under his direction, the Cathedral Choir undertook seven CD recordings, many broadcasts on BBC Radio and TV and Granada TV, and premiered many new works written especially for Chester Cathedral, including one by John Tavener. The choir also enjoyed tours to France, Holland, Ireland and the USA. David was actively involved in the planning and raising of £1.6 million for the building of a new Song School in 2005. Other highlights during his years in Chester were two International Church Music Festivals with Sir David Willcocks and, in 2007, a community project entitled Singing Out Loud, which resulted in over 200 school children joining with the cathedral choir in performances of a specially commissioned work celebrating the life of St Werburgh. During this period, David was also a regular conductor of the BBC Daily Service.
In January 2008 he was appointed Director of Music at Liverpool Cathedral. As part of the city’s year as Capital of Culture, there were three BBC Radio broadcasts featuring the Cathedral Choir, including the Holocaust Memorial service in January, and two broadcasts on Easter Day. Other highlights included two performances of Britten’s War Requiem in Cologne, a performance of Paul McCartney’s Ecce cor meum, and the first performance of a specially commissioned carol I sing of a maiden by the Liverpool-born composer, John McCabe. There will be a choir tour to Poland in October 2009.
As part of his role as Director of Music at Liverpool Cathedral, David is actively involved in an exciting programme of outreach into local primary schools to encourage children to use their singing voices. The Liverpool Cathedral Singing Challenge will culminate in a two day residential course in May in which participants from primary schools will join forces with the choristers from Liverpool Cathedral and also those from the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Throughout his career he has travelled extensively, as a recitalist, and as a conductor to France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Jamaica and the United States. His solo organ CD recordings include
Fanfare for Organ (Mayhew 1995),
Toccatas from Coventry (Lammus 1998) and
Organ Music from Chester (English Cathedral Series, volume 5, Regent Records 2002). He has appeared as a soloist with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jan Pascal Tortelier.
Email:
david.poulter@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
Organist Titulaire – Professor Dr Ian TraceyProfessor Ian Tracey has had a lifelong association with Liverpool Cathedral and its music and, with his two illustrious predecessors, continues the tradition of an almost apostolic succession. He studied organ with Lewis Rust and then with his immediate precursor Noel Rawsthorne. Studies at
Trinity
College , London, culminated in Fellowship, after which, scholarship grants enabled him to continue his studies in
Paris , with both Andre Isoir and Jean Langlais.
In 1980 he became the youngest Cathedral Organist in the Country, and after 27 years service in 2007, the Dean & Chapter created the post of ‘Organist Titulaire’, allowing him the freedom to devote more time to playing, lecturing, recording and writing. Since his appointment in 1980, he has played most of the major venues in this country, and an increasing number in Europe; very much in demand in the , he has made 23 extensive tours, playing in all the major Cities and in 1999 & 2003 undertook major tours of
Southern Australia , recitaling, examining and teaching. The past two seasons have included concerts in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Bermuda, Paris and
Cologne. He again returns to Germany and Spain in 2009 and to USA in 2010.
On the wider musical canvas, he is a frequent broadcaster with the B.B.C. and a regular soloist at the Proms. His recordings on the Cathedral Organ have met with wide acclaim from the critics, recording for E.M.I., CHANDOS and PRIORY; having amassed an extensive discography, all of which is viewable on his website, and much of which is available from the Cathedral shop. He regularly examines and adjudicates and, over the past 24 years, has conducted 200 concerts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus. He holds Fellowships from 20 prestigious musical institutions both here and abroad, including the Royal College of Organists, as one of only 28 Honorary Fellows worldwide. In 2006, the
University of
Liverpool conferred upon him Doctor of Music, in recognition of his long and distinguished service to music in
Liverpool and of his national and international reputation. In 2008, the Royal School of Church Music and in 2009, the Guild of Church Musicians, awarded him Fellowships for distinguished services to church music and international reputation as a church musician.
His other posts include: Organist to the City of Liverpool; at St. George's Hall; Chorus Master to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society; Guest Director of Music for the BBC Daily Service, Professor, Fellow and Organist at Liverpool,
John
Moores
University and past president of the Incorporated Association of Organists of Great Britain.
Website: www.itracey.org
Email: ian.tracey@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk
Sub Organist – Daniel BishopDaniel Bishop is the Cathedral Sub Organist, having studied with Ian Wells and Ian Tracey, formerly been organ scholar for two years, holder of the Neilson Organ Bursary and a Cathedral chorister before that. Alongside accompanying or conductiong the choir, Daniel plays for the various non-statutory services and concerts held in the Cathedral, and trains both the boy and girl choristers alongside David Poulter. He has also played recitals in many venues across the country, and has recently completed a recital tour of Pennsylvania, USA. He is a graduate of Huddersfield University and teaches music, music technology, sound recording and songwriting at Liverpool College. His other interests include swimming, skiing and musical theatre, and until it's closure, he was the Musical Director of the Myriad Theatre Company, based in Mossley Hill.
Organ Scholar - Martyn Noble
Martyn Noble takes up the post of Cathedral organ scholar in September 2009. Born in 1991 and from South Wigston in Leicestershire, Martyn served as a chorister in the choir of St. Thomas' Church before combining his organ duties with singing bass in the choir. Alongside the organ, Martyn currently studies piano and tuba, and has achieved Grade 8 level on all three instruments. He has played at Norwich, Chester and Winchester Cathedrals and also at York Minster; and last year he was accompanist to the Leicester Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society. Martyn also sings with the Leicester Phoenix Youth Chorale, and accompanies various theatre companies. His duties as organ scholar include assisting with the training of the probationers, both in vocal production and music theory, and playing for various services in the Cathedral.
Organ Bursar – Post Vacant
The Cathedral organ bursary is open to any ex-chorister interested in learning the organ.
Hon. Deputy Organist – Ian WellsIan Wells is Hon. Deputy Organist, having relinquished his post of Assistant Organist and Choral Conductor in December 2007, a post he held for 25 years. He is Director of Music of Tower College, Rainhill and a regular broadcaster with the BBC on local and national networks. He holds Fellowships from several musical institutions and heads a team of Directors of Music for religious programmes at BBC Radio Merseyside. In addition, he gives recitals both locally and nationally, and has played frequently in France.
Music Department Manager - Vacancy
The Director of Music and the Department are supported by the Music Department Manager. This is currently a vacant post.
