Harry Christophers
Encyclopedia
Harry Christophers is an English conductor. He attended the King's School, Canterbury and was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral
under choirmaster Allan Wicks
and played clarinet
in the school orchestra alongside Andrew Marriner
. He became an Academical Clerk
at Magdalen College, Oxford
, studying classics
for two years before embarking on a musical career. He has cited as his childhood musical influences the Rolling Stones
, Brahms, Mahler, Stravinsky and Jethro Tull
.
Christophers spent six years as a lay vicar at Westminster Abbey
and then time as a member of the Clerks of Oxenford and three years in the BBC Singers
. He founded the vocal ensemble The Sixteen
during this time in 1979. He has directed The Sixteen and its orchestra throughout Europe, America and the Far East, gaining a distinguished reputation for his work in Renaissance, Baroque and twentieth century music. With The Sixteen he has conducted recordings for CORO, The Sixteen's own label and other labels including Hyperion Records
, UCJ and Virgin Classics. Several recordings have received honours such as a Grand Prix du Disque and a Midem award for Handel's Messiah, numerous Schallplattenkritik, the Gramophone Award for Early Music and the Classical Brit Award 2005 for the disc Renaissance.
The Sixteen's 2009 recording of Handel's Coronation Anthems
earned a Classic FM Gramophone Award in the Baroque Vocal category as well as Artist of the Year honors for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. The recording also earned Christophers a Grammy
nomination for Best Choral Performance.
In 2000, Christophers began the "Choral Pilgrimage", a national tour of English cathedrals from York to Canterbury in music from the pre-Reformation era as The Sixteen’s contribution to the millennium celebrations. The success of the first Choral Pilgrimage led to subsequent annual ones devised around particular themes. As part of The Sixteen's thirtieth anniversary in 2009, the ninth Choral Pilgrimage was dedicated to the anniversaries of Henry Purcell
, James MacMillan and George Frideric Handel
. The 2010 Choral Pilgrimage, "Ceremony and Devotion - Music for the Tudors", presented works by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard. The 2011 Choral Pilgrimage is entitled "Hail, Mother of the Redeemer" and focuses on the music of Tomás Luis de Victoria
.
In September 2008, Christophers was named the Artistic Director of the Handel and Haydn Society
in Boston, beginning in the 2009-2010 season, for an initial contract of three seasons. In September 2011, his contract with the Handel and Haydn Society was extended another four seasons, through the 2015-2016 season.
In October 2008, Christophers was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester
. In July 2009, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
.
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....
under choirmaster Allan Wicks
Allan Wicks
Allan Wicks CBE was an English cathedral organist, who served in Canterbury Cathedral for nearly 30 years. He was an early champion of the music of Olivier Messiaen and Peter Maxwell Davies...
and played clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
in the school orchestra alongside Andrew Marriner
Andrew Marriner
Andrew Marriner is a British classical clarinettist and the son of the famed conductor Neville Marriner. He was a boy chorister in the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. In 1968, he joined the National Youth Orchestra, and eventually pursued studies at Oxford University. He then left Oxford and...
. He became an Academical Clerk
Clerk (choral)
The clerks are the adult members of the college choirs of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.*Undergraduates admitted to a College on the basis of their ability and potential in both singing and academic study are traditionally called "Choral Scholars"...
at Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, studying classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
for two years before embarking on a musical career. He has cited as his childhood musical influences the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Brahms, Mahler, Stravinsky and Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
.
Christophers spent six years as a lay vicar at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
and then time as a member of the Clerks of Oxenford and three years in the BBC Singers
BBC Singers
The BBC Singers are the professional chamber choir of the BBC. As one of six BBC Performing Groups, the 24-voiced choir has been in existence for more than 80 years. The BBC Singers have commissioned and premiered works by the leading composers of the past century, including Benjamin Britten, Sir...
. He founded the vocal ensemble The Sixteen
The Sixteen
The Sixteen are a choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers in 1979.The group's special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th century...
during this time in 1979. He has directed The Sixteen and its orchestra throughout Europe, America and the Far East, gaining a distinguished reputation for his work in Renaissance, Baroque and twentieth century music. With The Sixteen he has conducted recordings for CORO, The Sixteen's own label and other labels including Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
, UCJ and Virgin Classics. Several recordings have received honours such as a Grand Prix du Disque and a Midem award for Handel's Messiah, numerous Schallplattenkritik, the Gramophone Award for Early Music and the Classical Brit Award 2005 for the disc Renaissance.
The Sixteen's 2009 recording of Handel's Coronation Anthems
Coronation Anthems
The Coronation Anthems are four anthems composed by George Frideric Handel using texts from the King James Bible, to be played at the coronation of the British monarch. They are Zadok the Priest , My Heart Is Inditing , The King Shall Rejoice and Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened...
earned a Classic FM Gramophone Award in the Baroque Vocal category as well as Artist of the Year honors for Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. The recording also earned Christophers a Grammy
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
nomination for Best Choral Performance.
In 2000, Christophers began the "Choral Pilgrimage", a national tour of English cathedrals from York to Canterbury in music from the pre-Reformation era as The Sixteen’s contribution to the millennium celebrations. The success of the first Choral Pilgrimage led to subsequent annual ones devised around particular themes. As part of The Sixteen's thirtieth anniversary in 2009, the ninth Choral Pilgrimage was dedicated to the anniversaries of Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
, James MacMillan and George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
. The 2010 Choral Pilgrimage, "Ceremony and Devotion - Music for the Tudors", presented works by William Byrd, Thomas Tallis and John Sheppard. The 2011 Choral Pilgrimage is entitled "Hail, Mother of the Redeemer" and focuses on the music of Tomás Luis de Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria, sometimes Italianised as da Vittoria , was the most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain, and one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation, along with Giovanni da Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Victoria was not only a composer, but also an...
.
In September 2008, Christophers was named the Artistic Director of the Handel and Haydn Society
Handel and Haydn Society
The Handel and Haydn Society is an American chorus and period instrument orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1815, it remains one of the oldest performing arts organizations in the United States.-Early history:...
in Boston, beginning in the 2009-2010 season, for an initial contract of three seasons. In September 2011, his contract with the Handel and Haydn Society was extended another four seasons, through the 2015-2016 season.
In October 2008, Christophers was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
. In July 2009, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire within the University of Glamorgan Group located in Cardiff, Wales....
.