Philip Rushforth
Philip Rushforth | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 (age 53–54) |
| Occupation | Organist |
Philip Rushforth (born 1972) is an arranger and classical composer who has served as the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chester Cathedral since 2009.[1][2][3] He has collaborated with David Hill and Stephen Layton.[4]
Biography
Rushforth was a cathedral chorister at Chester Cathedral.[1] He was tutored by Roger Fisher.[5] In 1991, he was appointed as an organ scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was directed by Dr Richard Marlow.[6] Rushforth was also taught by David Sanger.[7][8]
Career
Southwell
In 1994, he took up the post of Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster and co-founded the Southwell Minster Chorale. He worked with the chorale for eight years.[9][5]
Chester
In September 2002 he was appointed assistant director of music at Chester Cathedral.[5][10] Between December 2007 and January 2008, Rushforth was appointed director of music and organist.[1][7] In 2015, he appeared on BBC Radio 2 on The Organist Entertains: Battle of the Organs.[11][12] In 2018, he conducted Fauré's Requiem alongside John Lubbock.[13] In 2024, he conducted the choir and a group of musicians from the North West at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson.[14][15][16]
Works
- Sleep, my Jesus, sleep[17] – traditional Ukrainian Christmas carol, arranged by Philip Rushforth (Encore Publications 020798, 2024)
Discography
- Chester Cathedral Choir Sings Music By Rheinberger And Elgar (Alpha, 1988)
- Southwell Splendour (OxRecs Digital, 1998)
- Come, Come My Voice[5] (Lammas, 2002)
- French Organ Music from Chester Cathedral (Amphion, 2007)
- Miserere – Choral Favourites (Sony, 2009)
- Whitlock and Hylton Stewart – The Organ of Chester Cathedral[18] (Priory, 2011)
- The Great British Wedding Album[19] (Sony, 2011)
- The Grand Organ of Chester Cathedral[20] (Priory, 2012)
- Glory To The New-Born King (Priory, 2012)
- J S Bach from Chester[21] (Priory, 2018)
- Choral Classics from Chester – The Choir of Chester Cathedral[22] (Priory, 2018)
- Richard Lambert: Music for Brass and Organ[23] (Toccata, 2024)
Awards and achievements
In September 2000, he was a finalist in the Royal College of Organists' Performer of the Year award, performing with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Rumon Gamba.[7] In 2020 he was awarded an honorary Associateship of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) for "achievements in church music of national significance".[24][25][26] These include several years volunteering for the former RCSM Chester Area Committee, and for volunteering for Region One in the north of England.[27]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Henwood, Jo (11 January 2008). "Ex-chorister is new director of music". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "The dedicated team behind Chester Cathedral". Chester Cathedral. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Alumni Activities". Trinity College Cambridge. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Organ Recital – Philip Rushforth". St Mary's Edinburgh. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Come, Come, My Voice | Lammas Records". lammas.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Past and current organ scholars". The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Philip Rushforth". Chester Cathedral. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "RCO News: David Sanger – A Musical Celebration: 5th March". www.rco.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Philip Rushforth – Vox Organi" (in German). Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Philip Rushforth aus Chester für zwei Konzerte zu Gast". www.leine-solling.de (in German). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 – The Organist Entertains, Battle of the Organs, Battle of the Organs: Chester Cathedral, January 2015 – Battle of the Organs, Chester Cathedral (l-r): Nigel Ogden, Philip Rushforth, Geoffrey Woollatt, Benjamin Chewter". BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 – The Organist Entertains, Battle of the Organs, Battle of the Organs: Chester Cathedral, January 2015 – Chester Cathedral Organ – pipework". BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Classical Events: A Concert of Remembrance". Classical Events. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Chantler-Hicks, Lydia (7 June 2024). "Duke of Westminster ties knot in society wedding of year – live". The Standard. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ "Duke of Westminster: Royals attend wedding of 'Britain's most eligible bachelor' – who was there (and who wasn't)". Sky News. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ Conrieri, Stefania (7 June 2024). "Il duca di Westminster sposa Olivia Henson: foto e racconto dal matrimonio dell'anno". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Reviews December 2024". RSCM. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Whitlock and Hylton Stewart – The Organ of Chester Cathedral | Britain's Premier Church Music Label". www.prioryrecords.co.uk.
- ^ "The Great British Wedding Album". Presto Music. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "The Grand Organ of Chester Cathedral". Presto Music.
- ^ "J S Bach from Chester: (includes Fantasia & Fugue in G minor BWV 542 and other works)". Presto Music. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
- ^ "Choral Classics from Chester – The Choir of Chester Cathedral – Organists: Andrew Wyatt and Rachel Mahon – Directed by Philip Rushforth | Britain's Premier Church Music Label". www.prioryrecords.co.uk.
- ^ "Richard Lambert: Music for Brass and Organ | Toccata Music Group | Toccata Classics | Toccata Press | Toccata Next". toccataclassics.com/.
- ^ "Royal School of Church Music awards". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Honorary Awards". RSCM. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
- ^ "Royal School of Church Music awards". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
- ^ RCSM Celebration Day Order of Service 2020 The Royal School of Church Music Retrieved 5 September 2025