John Birch (musician)
Encyclopedia
John Birch is an internationally renowned Recitalist, Concert Organist and Organ Scholar. He was educated at Trent College
, Derbyshire and left in July 1947 to study at the Royal College of Music
, London.
In 1953 he became Organist and Master of the Choristers at All Saints, Margaret Street
, London when it still maintained a small choir school with a boys choir singing the daily services. In 1958 John Birch moved to Chichester to be Organist
and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral
; he has since maintained close links with this cathedral city in West Sussex
as a patron of the arts and collector of Modern British Art. During his time at Chichester he worked closely with Dean Walter Hussey
in the commissioning of new choral works for the Cathedral Choir including works form the composers Bernstein
, Walton
, Berkeley
, Albright
, and Howells
. He was one of the founders of the revived Southern Cathedrals Festival (with his colleagues at Salisbury
and Winchester
Cathedrals) in 1960.
A year earlier, in 1959, Birch was appointed as a Professor at the Royal College of Music
, where he continued to lecture until 1997. His natural educational abilities were further harnessed by the University of Sussex
, where Birch played as the University Organist from 1967 to 1994 and worked as a Visiting Lecturer in Music from 1971 to 1983.
In 1982, Birch further established his musical pedigree by becoming Director of Music at Temple Church
. Two years later, he was appointed the role of Curator-Organist at the Royal Albert Hall
, a position that he still holds. He is organist for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
and has recorded widely, particularly in orchestral repertoire.
He holds an honorary MA from the University of Sussex and the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music. Dr Birch
has been at sometime President and Treasurer of the Royal College of Organists
.
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
, Derbyshire and left in July 1947 to study at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, London.
In 1953 he became Organist and Master of the Choristers at All Saints, Margaret Street
All Saints, Margaret Street
All Saints, Margaret Street is an Anglican church in London built in the High Victorian Gothic style by the architect William Butterfield and completed in 1859....
, London when it still maintained a small choir school with a boys choir singing the daily services. In 1958 John Birch moved to Chichester to be 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...
and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
; he has since maintained close links with this cathedral city in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
as a patron of the arts and collector of Modern British Art. During his time at Chichester he worked closely with Dean Walter Hussey
Walter Hussey
Walter Hussey was an Anglican clergyman who had a great fondness for the arts, commissioning a number of musical compositions and visual art for the church as well as amassing his own collection....
in the commissioning of new choral works for the Cathedral Choir including works form the composers Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Walton
William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton OM was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera...
, Berkeley
Lennox Berkeley
Sir Lennox Randal Francis Berkeley was an English composer.- Biography :He was born in Oxford, England, and educated at the Dragon School, Gresham's School and Merton College, Oxford...
, Albright
William Albright (musician)
William Albright was an American composer, pianist and organist.Albright was born in Gary, Indiana, and began learning the piano at the age of five, and attended the Juilliard Preparatory Department , the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan , where he studied composition with...
, and Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
. He was one of the founders of the revived Southern Cathedrals Festival (with his colleagues at Salisbury
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
and Winchester
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
Cathedrals) in 1960.
A year earlier, in 1959, Birch was appointed as a Professor at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, where he continued to lecture until 1997. His natural educational abilities were further harnessed by the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
, where Birch played as the University Organist from 1967 to 1994 and worked as a Visiting Lecturer in Music from 1971 to 1983.
In 1982, Birch further established his musical pedigree by becoming Director of Music at Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
. Two years later, he was appointed the role of Curator-Organist at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, a position that he still holds. He is organist for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
and has recorded widely, particularly in orchestral repertoire.
He holds an honorary MA from the University of Sussex and the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music. Dr Birch
has been at sometime President and Treasurer 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...
.