Richard Apperley

Name:	Richard Apperley
Location:	Wellington New Zealand 6011
Contact:	Please visit my website - www.richardapperley.com Send Richard Apperley a message

Additional Info:

Richard Apperley is the Assistant Organist at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where he is responsible for accompanying the cathedral services and assisting with the direction of the cathedral's choirs. Richard formerly held the post of Assistant Organist at Lincoln Cathedral, where he benefited from the opportunity of accompanying and directing one of the UK’s top cathedral choirs.

Prior to his post at Lincoln Cathedral, he was Assistant Organist at St Michael’s Church, Highgate, London. Here he accompanied the choir and formed the boy probationers choir.

Richard is highly sought after as an accompanist, soloist, conductor and teacher. Recent highlights have included accompanying the Orpheus Choir of Wellington for Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna in their critically acclaimed 'Cloudburst' concert, acting as guest conductor for Cantoris in a concert of music by Tomkins, Byrd and Gibbons, and playing for the television broadcast of Nine Lessons and Carols from the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul in 2008. In February 2010 Richard played the organ for Mahler's 8th symphony with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy as part of the Wellington International Arts Festival. Later this year he will record a CD of New Zealand organ music and lead a series of masterclasses for ‘reluctant organists’. He also currently holds the position of chapel organist at St Mark's Church School, where he plays for weekly services and teaches the organ to a number of pupils.

As an organist Richard has a particular interest in the music of Buxtehude, Howells and contemporary works. He enjoys combining the organ with unexpected musical matches including gamelan, electroacoustic installations and folk traditions. He also has a passion for Anglican psalmody, and has led the publication of new psalters at both the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul and Lincoln Cathedral.

A keen promoter of New Zealand organ music, Richard has compiled and edited two volumes of New Zealand organ works, published by Fagus Music (UK). He has also given many recitals of the repertoire, and has recorded a concert for broadcast by Concert FM.

Specialisms / Genres:

Solo Performance, Early Music