Summer Music at St Mary’s Thursday 12 July 2018

David Poulter

Grand Choeur Guy Weitz Adagio in G minor Tomaso Albinoni Toccata in the Dorian mode J S Bach Variations on Mein junges leben hat ein end Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck Introduction and Passacaglia in D minor Max Reger Arrival of the (from Solomon) G F Handel Prelude, Fugue and Variation César Franck Carillon sur la sonnerie du Carillon de la chapelle du Château de Longport (Aisne)from “24 Pièces en style libre” Louis Vierne Prelude on the Londonderry Air Noel Rawsthorne

Fantasia and Fugue in G C H H Parry

David Poulter was born in and educated at The Kings School, Rochester and at The Royal College of Music, London where he was a Foundation Scholar and Walford Davies prizewinner. He was also awarded the coveted Limpus and Frederick Shinn prizes at the Royal College of . He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (and a holder of the RCO Training diploma), a Fellow of Trinity College of Music, a Graduate of the Royal Schools of Music and an Associate of the Royal College of Music. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians in 2008 in recognition of his great contribution to church music over many years.

After five years as Assistant at Rochester , and after further study at London University, David Poulter went to in 1990, first as Assistant Organist and ultimately as Director of Music. During his time in Coventry, he founded the Cathedral Girls’Choir consisting of 50 singers aged 8 – 16 years. He also initiated a course in Church Music at Coventry University.

David Poulter was appointed Organist and Director of Music at Chester Cathedral in April 1997, following a succession of distinguished organists dating from Robert Whyte in the 16th century to John Sanders and Roger Fisher in the 20th century. Under his direction, the Cathedral Choir undertook seven CD recordings, many broadcasts on BBC Radio and TV and Granada TV, and premiered many new works written especially for Chester Cathedral, including one by John Tavener. The choir also enjoyed tours to France, Holland, Ireland and the USA. David was actively involved in the planning and raising of £1.6 million for the building of a new Song School in 2005. Other highlights included two International Church Music Festivals with Sir David Willcocks. During this period, David Poulter was also a regular conductor of the BBC Daily Service.

From January 2008 to August 2017 David Poulter was Director of Music at Cathedral where he enjoyed a close musical partnership with his friend and colleague, Professor Ian Tracey, Organist Titulaire.

As well as conducting the cathedral choir at seven services each week during term time, David:

 took the choir on tours to Poland, Paris, Estonia, New York and Washington;  recorded five CDs of choral music with Records: . Evensong from ; . Music for Men’s Voices featuring music by Durufle and Tallis; . The Psalms of David, Volume 3; . Great Cathedral Anthems from Liverpool Cathedral; . and Great Hymns from Liverpool;  conducted the choir for many BBC TV and Radio broadcasts;  and directed first performances of specially commissioned works by Cecilia McDowall, Richard Shephard, James Macmillan, and Liverpool-born composer, John McCabe.

David Poulter has travelled extensively, as a recitalist, and as a conductor to France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Jamaica and the United States. He has featured as a soloist on BBC Radio 3 with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Admission £10