Donald Hunt
Donald Hunt was born at Gloucester,
where he became a cathedral chorister and an articled pupil of the
cathedral organist, conductor and composer, Dr Herbert Sumsion, to
whom he became assistant organist at the age of seventeen.
After a
short spell in Torquay, Donald Hunt was appointed director of music
at the renowned Parish Church of Leeds and, while in Yorkshire, became conductor and choir trainer
of several notable choirs such as the Leeds Philharmonic, the Leeds
Festival Chorus and the Halifax Choral Society. For his
work in Yorkshire – he was also Leeds City Organist and an academic
lecturer at the Leeds College of Music – he received a doctorate in
music from the University of Leeds. Dr Hunt was appointed
Organist and Master of the Choristers at Worcester Cathedral in
January 1976, a post he held until August 1996, during which time he
was artistic director and conductor of eight Three Choirs
Festivals.
During his
career Donald Hunt has made many commercial recordings with his
various choirs, and as organ recitalist, has broadcast regularly and
appeared on television.
His work has taken him all over Europe, as well as to the
United States and
Canada and more
recently he has been a regular visitor to South
Africa, where he has worked as
guest conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonia on numerous occasions.
Through his career he has worked with most of the leading British
orchestras, having a particular association with the Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and, more recently, the
English Symphony Orchestra. Since leaving his post at the Cathedral,
Dr Hunt has pursued an active career as conductor, lecturer,
composer and teacher. He has written several books, the most recent
being Elgar and the Three
Choirs Festival and
much of his choral and organ music has been published, including his
most extended work, Hymnus
Paschalis. He is
currently Music Advisor to the Elgar School of Music in Worcester,
where he is also responsible for the activities of the Elgar Chorale
and Camerata. He master-minded, and was artistic director and
conductor of the 2007 Elgar 150th anniversary festival in
Worcester, and is much in demand
for lectures and concerts devoted to the composer. He is a Vice
president of the Elgar Society and the Elgar Foundation. Donald Hunt was appointed OBE
in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1993 for services to British
Music.
His
interests are listed as poetry, American musicals, gardening,
cricket, and Worcester Warriors Rugby Club!
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