Geraint Bowen (musician)
Encyclopedia
Geraint Bowen is an English
conductor
and organist
. He is artistic director of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival
.
He became organist and director of music at Hereford Cathedral
in 2001. He is also conductor of the Hereford Choral Society. Previously he had been assistant organist at Hereford Cathedral (1989–94) before becoming organist and master of the choristers at St Davids Cathedral
, Pembrokeshire, and artistic director of the St Davids Cathedral Festival (1995–2001).
Bowen was born in London
in 1963 and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge
, where he was organ scholar
from 1982 to 1985 and from where he started his conducting career and recorded an LP of early music with the choir. Whilst assistant organist at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
(1986–89) he took the external MusB degree at Trinity College, Dublin
. While at St Davids, he oversaw the re-building of the cathedral's Father Willis organ by Harrison & Harrison, a major project which was completed in 2000. With the choirs of St Davids Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral he has toured the USA and Australia; he has also directed choral workshops and courses in the USA, including three for the Royal School of Church Music
. With the Hereford choir, he recorded a CD of Anthems, Motets & Services by William Byrd
and also directed what was probably the first performance of John Browne's Stabat mater in the cathedral's history during a choral evensong.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and organist
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...
. He is artistic director of the Hereford 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...
.
He became organist and director of music at Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
in 2001. He is also conductor of the Hereford Choral Society. Previously he had been assistant organist at Hereford Cathedral (1989–94) before becoming organist and master of the choristers at St Davids Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
, Pembrokeshire, and artistic director of the St Davids Cathedral Festival (1995–2001).
Bowen was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1963 and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, where he was organ scholar
Organ scholar
An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at an institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience....
from 1982 to 1985 and from where he started his conducting career and recorded an LP of early music with the choir. Whilst assistant organist at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
(1986–89) he took the external MusB degree at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. While at St Davids, he oversaw the re-building of the cathedral's Father Willis organ by Harrison & Harrison, a major project which was completed in 2000. With the choirs of St Davids Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral he has toured the USA and Australia; he has also directed choral workshops and courses in the USA, including three for the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
. With the Hereford choir, he recorded a CD of Anthems, Motets & Services by William Byrd
William Byrd
William Byrd was an English composer of the Renaissance. He wrote in many of the forms current in England at the time, including various types of sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.-Provenance:Knowledge of Byrd's biography expanded in the late 20th century, thanks largely...
and also directed what was probably the first performance of John Browne's Stabat mater in the cathedral's history during a choral evensong.