Alan Thurlow
Encyclopedia
Alan Thurlow is an organist born in Essex
, England
.
Thurlow was educated at Bancroft's School
, Woodford Green
. He read Music
at Sheffield University before going on to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, for a period of research into pre-Reformation English Church Music.
, and whilst there combined his duties at the Cathedral with those of Director of Music at the Chorister School
and part-time Lecturer
in Music at Durham University
.
& Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral
. He is also a member of the Executive of the Friends of Pallant House Gallery
, an Organ Adviser for the Diocese of Chichester
and an area representative for The Royal School of Church Music. He has travelled with the Cathedral Choir and the RSCM to France
, Holland, Germany
, South Africa
and the United States of America.
For twelve years Thurlow was Chairman of the national charity, The Friends of Cathedral Music
, and for two years he served as President of the Cathedral Organists' Association. Nationally, he has served as Chairman of the Organs Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists
, and honorary Fellow of both The Guild of Church Musicians and The Guild of Church Musicians and Singers, and in 2005 he received the award of a Lambeth
Doctorate from The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thurlow retired from Chichester Cathedral
in 2008. In 2009, Alan was made Organist
Emeritus
of Chichester Cathedral
, as the quality of music-making and singing had improved tremendously during his Organistship at Chichester.
Alan is President
of the Incorporated Association Of Organists.
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
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...
.
Thurlow was educated at Bancroft's School
Bancroft's School
Bancroft's School is a co-educational independent school in Woodford Green, London. The school has around 1,000 pupils aged between 7 and 18...
, Woodford Green
Woodford Green
Woodford Green, formerly in the county of Essex, is part of the North East London suburb of Woodford, on the edge of Epping Forest, mostly within the London Borough of Redbridge with a small part on the western side of the green within the London Borough of Waltham Forest .-History:Woodford Green...
. He read Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
at Sheffield University before going on to Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, for a period of research into pre-Reformation English Church Music.
Durham Cathedral
In 1973 he was appointed Sub-Organist at Durham CathedralDurham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
, and whilst there combined his duties at the Cathedral with those of Director of Music at the Chorister School
Chorister School
The Chorister School is a co-educational independent school for the 2 to 13 age range. It consists of a nursery , a pre-preparatory and preparatory day and boarding school in Durham, England...
and part-time Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Music at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
.
Chichester Cathedral
In 1980 Thurlow succeeded Dr John Birch as OrganistOrganist
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...
& 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 is also a member of the Executive of the Friends of Pallant House Gallery
Pallant House Gallery
Pallant House Gallery is an art gallery in Chichester, West Sussex, England. It houses one of the best collections of 20th century British art in the world....
, an Organ Adviser for the Diocese of Chichester
Diocese of Chichester
The Diocese of Chichester is a Church of England diocese based in Chichester, covering Sussex. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey, which was based at Selsey Abbey from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester...
and an area representative for The Royal School of Church Music. He has travelled with the Cathedral Choir and the RSCM to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Holland, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the United States of America.
For twelve years Thurlow was Chairman of the national charity, The Friends of Cathedral Music
Friends of Cathedral Music
The Friends of Cathedral Music is a charity which seeks to maintain and expand the work of choral foundations of cathedrals, collegiate churches, chapels, and other appropriate places of worship in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland...
, and for two years he served as President of the Cathedral Organists' Association. Nationally, he has served as Chairman of the Organs Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches. He is a Fellow 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...
, and honorary Fellow of both The Guild of Church Musicians and The Guild of Church Musicians and Singers, and in 2005 he received the award of a Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
Doctorate from The Archbishop of Canterbury.
Thurlow retired from 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...
in 2008. In 2009, Alan was made 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...
Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of 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...
, as the quality of music-making and singing had improved tremendously during his Organistship at Chichester.
Alan is President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Incorporated Association Of Organists.