Stephen Farr
Encyclopedia
Stephen Farr is a British organist
. He studied with Robert Munns and David Sanger
in London and Cambridge. He also received tuition from Piet Kee
in Haarlem and Hans Fagius
in Copenhagen, and as a student was the recipient of grants from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Worshipful Company of Musicians (W.T. Best Scholarship).
In 1984 he became Organ Scholar
of Clare College, Cambridge
, where he obtained a double first in Music and a Masters degree in Musicology
. Sub-organist posts at Christ Church, Oxford
and Winchester Cathedral
preceded his appointment as Organist and Master of the Choristers
of Guildford Cathedral
, a post which he held from 1999 until 2007.
Stephen Farr now pursues an active freelance career, teaching in Oxford, directing the professional choir and general musical programme of St Paul's Church Knightsbridge in London, and performing as a soloist and ensemble player in the UK and abroad. He is also the Director of Chapel Music at Worcester College, Oxford
. He won the Royal College of Organists
Performer of the Year Competition in 1988 and further prizes at the international competitions in Odense, St Albans and Paisley.
He maintains a regular broadcast presence, and as a recitalist has featured in the main series of the major venues in the UK – among them St Paul's Cathedral
(where he has appeared twice in the Celebrity Series), Westminster Abbey
, Westminster Cathedral
, King's College, Cambridge
, St David's Hall Cardiff, St John's, Smith Square, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
, the Bridgewater Hall
, the St David's
Festival, and the Fairfield Halls
. He has also appeared as a solo recitalist in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
and the Laurenskerk Alkmaar.
His concerto work has included engagements with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
, Ulster Orchestra
and the London Mozart Players
; in 2005 he made his debut in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw with the Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a concerto soloist in Sydney Opera House
with the Australian Baroque Orchestra. He works regularly with leading ensembles including Florilegium
, the Bach Choir, BBC Singers
, BBC Concert Orchestra
, English Concert, London Baroque Soloists, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, Wallace Collection
, Endymion Ensemble the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
, Britten Sinfonia, the Academy of Ancient Music and Polyphony.
He has a particular commitment to contemporary music, and has been involved in premieres of works by composers as diverse as Patrick Gowers
, Francis Pott
, Judith Bingham, Thomas Hyde and Howard Goodall
. He also collaborated with Thomas Adès
in a recording for EMI of the composer's Under Hamelin Hill. In 2004 he commissioned a new organ symphony from David Briggs, inspired by Maurice Duruflé
's setting of the Requiem mass. His recording of this work forms part of an extensive discography as soloist, accompanist and continuo player. In 2011 he will give the world premiere performances of 'The Everlasting Crown,' a major new solo work by Judith Bingham at the BBC Proms.
Farr is an examiner and trustee of the Royal College of Organists
.
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...
. He studied with Robert Munns and David Sanger
David Sanger (organist)
David John Sanger was a concert organist, professor and president of the Royal College of Organists.- Biography :Sanger was educated at Eltham College and the Royal Academy of Music...
in London and Cambridge. He also received tuition from Piet Kee
Piet Kee
The Dutch organist and composer Pieter William Kee was born in Zaandam, Netherlands on August 30, 1927. He studied organ, piano and composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory, obtaining the Prix d'Excellence, and won first prize at the annual Haarlem International Improvisation Competition three...
in Haarlem and Hans Fagius
Hans Fagius
-Biography:Fagius studied organ with Bengt Berg before entering the Royal College of Music, Stockholm where he studied with Alf Linder. After graduating in 1974 he studied organ privately with Maurice Duruflé in Paris. He taught organ in Gothenburg and Stockholm before being appointed professor of...
in Copenhagen, and as a student was the recipient of grants from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Worshipful Company of Musicians (W.T. Best Scholarship).
In 1984 he became 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....
of Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, where he obtained a double first in Music and a Masters degree in Musicology
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
. Sub-organist posts at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and Winchester Cathedral
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...
preceded his appointment as Organist and Master of the Choristers
Organist and Master of the Choristers
An Organist and Master of the Choristers is a title given to a Director of Music at a Cathedral, particularly an Anglican Cathedral in England. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. He is both the organist and the choirmaster....
of Guildford Cathedral
Guildford Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit, Guildford is the Anglican cathedral at Guildford, Surrey, England.-Construction:Guildford was made a diocese in its own right in 1927, and work on its new cathedral, designed by Sir Edward Maufe, began nine years later, with the foundation stone being laid...
, a post which he held from 1999 until 2007.
Stephen Farr now pursues an active freelance career, teaching in Oxford, directing the professional choir and general musical programme of St Paul's Church Knightsbridge in London, and performing as a soloist and ensemble player in the UK and abroad. He is also the Director of Chapel Music at Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
. He won 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...
Performer of the Year Competition in 1988 and further prizes at the international competitions in Odense, St Albans and Paisley.
He maintains a regular broadcast presence, and as a recitalist has featured in the main series of the major venues in the UK – among them St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
(where he has appeared twice in the Celebrity Series), 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,...
, 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...
, King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, St David's Hall Cardiff, St John's, Smith Square, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by the Queen in June 1991, although had been opened on April 15, 1991. It is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hosts around 270 events...
, the Bridgewater Hall
Bridgewater Hall
The Bridgewater Hall is an international concert venue in Manchester city centre, England. It cost around £42 million to build and currently hosts over 250 performances a year....
, the St David's
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
Festival, and the Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Hall is an arts centre in Croydon, London, England and opened in 1962. It contains a concert hall, the Ashcroft Theatre , the Arnhem Gallery civic hall and an art gallery....
. He has also appeared as a solo recitalist in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris
Notre Dame de Paris , also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra of...
and the Laurenskerk Alkmaar.
His concerto work has included engagements with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
, Ulster Orchestra
Ulster Orchestra
The Ulster Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Belfast, the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall...
and the London Mozart Players
London Mozart Players
The London Mozart Players is a British chamber orchestra founded in 1949. The LMP is the longest-established chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom whose performances and recordings focus largely on the core repertoire from the Classical era...
; in 2005 he made his debut in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw with the Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a concerto soloist in Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
with the Australian Baroque Orchestra. He works regularly with leading ensembles including Florilegium
Florilegium
In medieval Latin a florilegium was a compilation of excerpts from other writings. The word is formed the Latin flos and legere : literally a gathering of flowers, or collection of fine extracts from the body of a larger work. It was adapted from the Greek anthologia "anthology", with the same...
, the Bach Choir, 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...
, BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
, English Concert, London Baroque Soloists, 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"...
, Wallace Collection
Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a museum in London, with a world-famous range of fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with large holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries.It was established in...
, Endymion Ensemble the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
, Britten Sinfonia, the Academy of Ancient Music and Polyphony.
He has a particular commitment to contemporary music, and has been involved in premieres of works by composers as diverse as Patrick Gowers
Patrick Gowers
William Patrick Gowers is an English composer mainly known for his film scores.-Film music:Gowers' works include the following music scores: Comic Act , Forever Green , The Hound of the Baskervilles , The Sign of Four , Whoops Apocalypse , Anna Karenina , Smiley's People , I remember...
, Francis Pott
Francis Pott
Francis Pott, born 25 August 1957, is a British composer, pianist, senior academic and university administrator.-Life:He held open music scholarships at Winchester College and Magdalene College, Cambridge, studying composition at the latter with Robin Holloway and Hugh Wood while also pursuing...
, Judith Bingham, Thomas Hyde and Howard Goodall
Howard Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
. He also collaborated with Thomas Adès
Thomas Adès
Thomas Adès is a British composer, pianist and conductor.-Biography:Adès studied piano with Paul Berkowitz and later composition with Robert Saxton at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London...
in a recording for EMI of the composer's Under Hamelin Hill. In 2004 he commissioned a new organ symphony from David Briggs, inspired by Maurice Duruflé
Maurice Duruflé
Maurice Duruflé was a French composer, organist, and pedagogue.Duruflé was born in Louviers, Eure. In 1912, he became chorister at the Rouen Cathedral Choir School, where he studied piano and organ with Jules Haelling...
's setting of the Requiem mass. His recording of this work forms part of an extensive discography as soloist, accompanist and continuo player. In 2011 he will give the world premiere performances of 'The Everlasting Crown,' a major new solo work by Judith Bingham at the BBC Proms.
Farr is an examiner and trustee 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...
.