Graham Davies, Director of Music
Graham Davies took up his post at Leatherhead in May 2011. He received early musical training at Winchester Cathedral where he assisted and was a pupil of Graham Matthews and Martin Neary. In his mid twenties he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster at St.Cross, Winchester and following this was Deputy Organist at Wimborne Minster.
After a period at Leeds Parish Church, Graham went on to become Director of Music at Malvern Priory, where he founded the Priory Singers and Orchestra and regularly took part in the Malvern Festival. Whilst at Malvern Graham trained the choir of men and boys, who occasionally sang at Worcester and Gloucester Cathedrals. At this time Graham taught piano and class singing at Croftdown Preparatory School in Malvern and prepared pupils for Associated Board Examinations.
Upon moving to Bath in 1989 and following five years as Director of Music at St. Mary, Bathwick, Graham was appointed Deputy Organist at Bath Abbey in 1994 where for seven years he was accompanist for the Abbey Girls Choir and the Evening Choir and was the organist for many ceremonial and civic occasions in the Abbey.
In 2005 Graham was appointed to All Saints’ Clifton, in Bristol where he developed the music within an Anglo Catholic tradition, widening the repertoire and recruiting many new members to the choir. From 2005 to 2008 he was a regular accompanist for the Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir. At this time he finished his business career to devote all his time to music and in August 2008 went on to be Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, High Wycombe. As well as developing the scope of liturgical music, Graham established a successful series of weekly lunchtime concerts. Graham took up his duties as Organist and Choirmaster of St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church, Leatherhead in May 2011 and in addition has recently been appointed Organist of St. Anthony's RC Church, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire.
As a solo organist, Graham has given many recitals in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK with previous performances at the cathedrals in Exeter, Bristol, Hereford, Coventry, Truro, Eglise St. Vincent in Montreux, St Peters Cathedral and Eglise de Notre-Dame in Geneva. He has performed in New York State and in Switzerland and had a busy year in 2011 including appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral and in Chicago. He has benefitted from organ studies and master classes with internationally renowned teachers including Margaret Phillips and Nicholas Kynaston, always concentrating on historically informed performance and is keen to encourage organ pupils.
Graham's major project for 2012 has been to launch the Music on Thursdays series of lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Parish Church.
The picture shows Graham seated at the restored 18th century Thomas Parker pipe organ.
After a period at Leeds Parish Church, Graham went on to become Director of Music at Malvern Priory, where he founded the Priory Singers and Orchestra and regularly took part in the Malvern Festival. Whilst at Malvern Graham trained the choir of men and boys, who occasionally sang at Worcester and Gloucester Cathedrals. At this time Graham taught piano and class singing at Croftdown Preparatory School in Malvern and prepared pupils for Associated Board Examinations.
Upon moving to Bath in 1989 and following five years as Director of Music at St. Mary, Bathwick, Graham was appointed Deputy Organist at Bath Abbey in 1994 where for seven years he was accompanist for the Abbey Girls Choir and the Evening Choir and was the organist for many ceremonial and civic occasions in the Abbey.
In 2005 Graham was appointed to All Saints’ Clifton, in Bristol where he developed the music within an Anglo Catholic tradition, widening the repertoire and recruiting many new members to the choir. From 2005 to 2008 he was a regular accompanist for the Wells Cathedral Voluntary Choir. At this time he finished his business career to devote all his time to music and in August 2008 went on to be Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, High Wycombe. As well as developing the scope of liturgical music, Graham established a successful series of weekly lunchtime concerts. Graham took up his duties as Organist and Choirmaster of St. Mary and St. Nicholas Church, Leatherhead in May 2011 and in addition has recently been appointed Organist of St. Anthony's RC Church, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire.
As a solo organist, Graham has given many recitals in cathedrals and churches throughout the UK with previous performances at the cathedrals in Exeter, Bristol, Hereford, Coventry, Truro, Eglise St. Vincent in Montreux, St Peters Cathedral and Eglise de Notre-Dame in Geneva. He has performed in New York State and in Switzerland and had a busy year in 2011 including appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral and in Chicago. He has benefitted from organ studies and master classes with internationally renowned teachers including Margaret Phillips and Nicholas Kynaston, always concentrating on historically informed performance and is keen to encourage organ pupils.
Graham's major project for 2012 has been to launch the Music on Thursdays series of lunchtime concerts in Leatherhead Parish Church.
The picture shows Graham seated at the restored 18th century Thomas Parker pipe organ.
