Stephen Cleobury
Encyclopedia
Stephen Cleobury CBE (icon ; born 31 December 1948) is an English organist
and conductor
. He was organ scholar
at St John's College, Cambridge
and sub-organist of Westminster Abbey
before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral
in 1979. He was also the President of the Royal College of Organists
from 2008.
In 1982 he took up the position of Director of Music for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
, where he also teaches music. He has been conductor of Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) since 1983, and was Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers
from 1995 to 2007, and Conductor Laureate from 2007. In 2008, Cleobury was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music
. Cleobury was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.
His brother Nicholas Cleobury
is also a conductor.
His cousin Stephen Dean is a composer.
Organ
Conducting
DVD
Conducting
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and 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...
. 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....
at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
and sub-organist of 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,...
before becoming Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral in London is the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales and the Metropolitan Church and Cathedral of the Archbishop of Westminster...
in 1979. He was also the President 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...
from 2008.
In 1982 he took up the position of Director of Music for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
The Choir of King's College, Cambridge is one of today's most accomplished and renowned representatives of the great British choral tradition. It was created by King Henry VI, who founded King's College, Cambridge in 1441, to provide daily singing in his Chapel, which remains the main task of the...
, where he also teaches music. He has been conductor of Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS) since 1983, and was Chief Conductor of 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...
from 1995 to 2007, and Conductor Laureate from 2007. In 2008, Cleobury was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of 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,...
. Cleobury was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.
His brother Nicholas Cleobury
Nicholas Cleobury
Nicholas Cleobury is an English conductor.He was organ scholar at Worcester College, Oxford, conductor of Schola Cantorum of Oxford and held assistant organist posts at Chichester Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford before turning to orchestral and operatic work...
is also a conductor.
His cousin Stephen Dean is a composer.
Recordings
CDOrgan
- 1993 - Organ Favourites from King's College, Cambridge
Conducting
- 2007 - I Heard a Voice - Music From the Golden Age, Works by Weelkes, Gibbons and Tomkins (Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Oliver Brett, Peter Stevens)
- 2006 - Brahms: A German Requiem (Choir of King's College, Cambridge, with Susan Gritton, Hanno-Muller Brachmann, Evgenia Rubinova and Jose Gallardo)
- 2001 - Handel Coronation Anthems
- 2002 - Vivaldi: Gloria (Choir of King's College, Cambridge, with the Academy of Ancient Music)
- 2003 - Mahler: Symphony No. 2, 'Auferstehung' (CUMS with MIT, Boston)
- 2000 - Best Loved Hymns (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- 1999 - Rachmaninov: Vespers (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- 1996 - The King's Collection (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- 1994 - Ikos (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- 1994 - Handel: Messiah (Choir of King's College, Cambridge, with Lynne Dawson, Hilary SummersHilary SummersHilary Summers is a Welsh contralto. She was trained at Reading University, the Royal Academy of Music, and the National Opera Studio in London. She has performed on soundtracks such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Libertine, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
, John Mark Ainsley and Alastair Miles) - 1994 - Bach: St Matthew Passion (Choir of King's College, Cambridge, with Rogers Covey-Crump, Michael George, Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, Martyn Hill, David Thomas)
- 1990 - Tallis: Spem in alium, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Responsaries (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- 1984 - O Come All Ye Faithful (Favourite Christmas Carols) (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
DVD
Conducting
- Anthems from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- Carols from King's (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)
- Handel: Messiah (Choir of King's College, Cambridge)