Geraint Bowen (musician)

Geraint Bowen (born in London, 11 January 1963)[1] is a British conductor and organist. He is Organist and Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral.

Early life and education

Bowen is a son of the Welsh tenor Kenneth Bowen (1932–2018) and the brother of the arts administrator Meurig Bowen.[2]

As a boy, Bowen was a chorister at St John-at-Hampstead Church in London, under the direction of Martindale Sidwell.[3] He graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar from 1982 to 1985[3] and from where he started his conducting career and recorded an LP of early music with the Choir of Jesus College.[4]

Career

In 1986 Bowen was appointed assistant organist at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.[3] While in Dublin he took the external MusB degree at Trinity College.

In 1989 Bowen was appointed Assistant Organist at Hereford Cathedral.[3]

St Davids Cathedral organ, rebuilt under Bowen's supervision

In 1995 Bowen was appointed organist and Master of the Choristers at St Davids Cathedral in Wales, and artistic director of the St Davids Cathedral Festival.[3] While at St Davids, he oversaw the re-building of the cathedral's Father Willis organ by Harrison & Harrison, a major project which was completed in 2000.

Bowen was appointed Organist and Director of Music of Hereford Cathedral in 2001.[5] He is also conductor of the Hereford Choral Society and artistic director of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival.[3]

With the choirs of St Davids Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral he has toured the US and Australia; he has also directed choral workshops and courses in the US, including three for the Royal School of Church Music. With the Hereford choir, he recorded a CD of Anthems, Motets & Services by William Byrd and directed what was probably the cathedral's first performance of John Browne's Stabat mater.

Discography

  • Aeternae Laudis Lilium (Abbey, 1985) − conducting the Choir of Jesus College, Cambridge
  • Psalms of David Vol. 1 Hear My Prayer O Lord (Priory, 1989) − organist accompanying the Choir of Hereford Cathedral
  • Howells From Hereford (Regent, 2009) - conducting the Choir of Hereford Cathedral
  • William Byrd: Anthems, Motets & Services (Griffin, 2010) - conducting the Choir of Hereford Cathedral
  • Christmas From Hereford (Regent, 2012) - conducting the Choir of Hereford Cathedral
  • Easter Day at Hereford (Regent, 2016) - conducting the Choir of Hereford Cathedral

References

  1. ^ "The Guardian, birthdays column". 11 January 2019.
  2. ^ Mohr-Pietsch, Sara; Bowen, Meurig (19 April 2015). The Choir - The Choral Interview (Radio broadcast). BBC. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Organists". Hereford Cathedral. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Aeternae laudis lilium [sound recording]". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  5. ^ Morley, Christopher (27 July 2012). "Review: Haydn's 'Creation' at Hereford Cathedral". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
Cultural offices
Preceded by Organist and Master of the Choristers, St Davids Cathedral
1995-2001 		Succeeded by
Timothy Noon
Preceded by Organist and Master of the Choristers of Hereford Cathedral
2001- 		Succeeded by
Incumbent