Graham Eccles - Conductor
Graham
Eccles began learning the piano at an early age and subsequently in his
teens began studying the organ at Worksop College in Nottinghamshire; during
this time he gained his LTCL and ARCO diplomas.
He then studied at the Royal Northern College of music in Manchester under Ronald Frost and was appointed Boddington Organ Scholar at St. Ann’s Church. As well as graduating from the college with an upper division diploma he gained the diploma in professional performance and the Alice Shawcross prize in Church music. He also achieved the ARCM and FRCO diplomas at this time.
More
recently, he was been awarded the diploma in Choral Directing from the Royal
College of Organists, gaining the Brook Memorial Prize.
In
1989 Graham started as Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral and played a key
role in the musical life of the city both in and out if the Cathedral.
Some
notable recital engagements have taken place in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral,
Cantù (Italy), the Cathedral of Sens (France), this being part of the 7ème
International Festival d’Orgue and in Memphis, New York and Atlanta, USA and
was asked to play at very short notice two concerts in Sardinia in the 8th
International Organ Festival. In
2002 he participated in the Keyboard Festival at the Conservatorium of Music in
Newcastle, Australia playing and working with the native and some South Korean
organ students.
He
was Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales
between 1998 and 2003 and has recorded the first CD on the rebuilt organ
entitled “Organ and Harp from St Asaph”, with Eira Lynn Jones playing the
harp.
From
2004, Graham became a freelance musician and as well as teaching and performing
locally, he is one of the regular organists for the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4
and also occasionally directs the singers.
He is a visiting tutor in organ at the University of Wales, Bangor and is
Conductor of Colwyn Choral Society and is in regular demand as an organ
accompanist by many other choirs and Choral Societies of the North West.
He has played many times with the RLPO and Hallé orchestras.