Paul Hale
Encyclopedia
Paul Hale is Director of Music at Southwell Minster
, Nottinghamshire.
He was previously Assistant Organist of Rochester Cathedral
and Organist of Tonbridge School
. He studied at New College, Oxford
where he was Organ Scholar. He studied with Sir David Lumsden
and Professor Nicholas Danby, gaining an MA in Music.
Hale is Conductor of the Nottingham Bach Choir, an Examiner for the Royal College of Organists
. He is also Chairman of the RSCM Southwell & Nottinghamshire Area, and a Trustee of the Percy Whitlock Trust and of the Nottingham Albert Hall
Binns Organ Trust.
He is Organ Adviser and Consultant to the dioceses of Lincoln and Southwell and Nottingham. He designed and led the restoration of the organ at Solihull School
; and has designed organs for Southwell, Rochester and Lincoln Cathedrals; Glasgow University, Bridlington Priory, Glenalmond, Leicester’s De Montfort Hall
and designed and led the restoration of many others.
He has appeared at both the Three Choirs Festival Three Choirs Festival
and the St Albans International Organ Festival. As well as this, he was also author of over twenty articles for the second edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
He has toured internationally. In 2005 he represented Britain in the Brussels Organ Festival. Recently he has toured Norway, America and was invited to play at St Sulpice in Paris.
He was President of the Cathedral Organists Association 1999–2001 and as of 2010 was Chairman of the annual Diocesan Organ Advisers’ Conference and President of the Nottingham & District Society of Organists.
He has recorded with the Southwell Minster Choir as well as his own organ performances.
His 2009 organ recital at Liverpool was described as an "exacting champion of subtlety – the difference that but one stop can make.". More recently his direction of Bach's Christmas Oratorio (1734) with the Nottingham Bach Choir was described as being a "thoughtful, spirited performance, truly fine and memorable."
He is highly regarded as a choral trainer and conductor. He was recently praised for leading the Nottingham Bach Choir of Elgar's the Kingdom to a performance "which resulted in a confident and emotive reading of the score."
Southwell Minster
Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...
, Nottinghamshire.
He was previously Assistant Organist of Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Norman church in Rochester, Kent. The bishopric is second oldest in England after Canterbury...
and Organist of Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
. He studied at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
where he was Organ Scholar. He studied with Sir David Lumsden
David Lumsden (musician)
Sir David James Lumsden PhD, DPhil, MA, MusB, FRCM, FRNCM, FRSAMD, FLCM, FRSA, Hon RAM, Hon FRCO, FKC .*Choirmaster, organist and harpsichordist,**St Mary's Church, Nottingham, 1954–1956**Southwell Minster 1956-1959,...
and Professor Nicholas Danby, gaining an MA in Music.
Hale is Conductor of the Nottingham Bach Choir, an Examiner for 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...
. He is also Chairman of the RSCM Southwell & Nottinghamshire Area, and a Trustee of the Percy Whitlock Trust and of the Nottingham Albert Hall
Albert Hall, Nottingham
The Albert Hall, Nottingham, is a City Centre Conference and Concert venue, situated in Nottingham, England.-History:The original Albert Hall was started in 1873 as a Nottingham Temperance Hall. Watson Fothergill, a local architect won the commission. On completion the building cost around £15,000 ,...
Binns Organ Trust.
He is Organ Adviser and Consultant to the dioceses of Lincoln and Southwell and Nottingham. He designed and led the restoration of the organ at Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
; and has designed organs for Southwell, Rochester and Lincoln Cathedrals; Glasgow University, Bridlington Priory, Glenalmond, Leicester’s De Montfort Hall
De Montfort Hall
De Montfort Hall is a music and performance venue in Leicester, England. It is situated adjacent to Victoria Park and is named after Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester.-History:...
and designed and led the restoration of many others.
He has appeared at both the Three Choirs Festival 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...
and the St Albans International Organ Festival. As well as this, he was also author of over twenty articles for the second edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.
He has toured internationally. In 2005 he represented Britain in the Brussels Organ Festival. Recently he has toured Norway, America and was invited to play at St Sulpice in Paris.
He was President of the Cathedral Organists Association 1999–2001 and as of 2010 was Chairman of the annual Diocesan Organ Advisers’ Conference and President of the Nottingham & District Society of Organists.
He has recorded with the Southwell Minster Choir as well as his own organ performances.
Professional achievements
- FRCO (Fellow of the Royal College of OrganistsRoyal College of OrganistsThe Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, but with members around the world...
) - ARCM (Associate of the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of MusicThe 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...
) - PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education)
- FRSA (Fellow of the Royal Society of ArtsRoyal Society of ArtsThe Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
) - Honorary FGCM (Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians)
- FRSCM (Fellow of the Royal School of Church Musicians)
- an Accredited Member of the Association of Independent Organ Advisers.
Critique
The Nottingham Post said "under his direction the score showed a fine sense of pace and impressive climaxes" as he led the Nottingham Bach Choir & Orchestra in 2009 and earlier that year it had suggested that Hale should be recognized as a musician "capable of outstanding feats of stamina" for directing the Bach Society's St John Passion and the Harmonic's Brahms' German Requiem in consecutive weeks.His 2009 organ recital at Liverpool was described as an "exacting champion of subtlety – the difference that but one stop can make.". More recently his direction of Bach's Christmas Oratorio (1734) with the Nottingham Bach Choir was described as being a "thoughtful, spirited performance, truly fine and memorable."
He is highly regarded as a choral trainer and conductor. He was recently praised for leading the Nottingham Bach Choir of Elgar's the Kingdom to a performance "which resulted in a confident and emotive reading of the score."