Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1869

Death

:

1956

 

Allan Willcocks was a British composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born on October 29, 1915, in New Malden, Surrey, England, Willcocks showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition under Ralph Vaughan Williams and conducting under Adrian Boult. After completing his studies, Willcocks began his career as a conductor, working with various orchestras and choirs throughout England. He was appointed the conductor of the Bach Choir in 1957, a position he held for over 30 years. During his tenure, he conducted numerous performances of Bach's choral works, including the St. Matthew Passion, the Mass in B Minor, and the Christmas Oratorio. In addition to his work with the Bach Choir, Willcocks was also the conductor of the London Bach Orchestra and the Southern Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a frequent guest conductor with other orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. As a composer, Willcocks wrote a variety of works, including choral music, orchestral music, and chamber music. His choral works are particularly notable, and he is perhaps best known for his arrangements of traditional Christmas carols. His arrangement of "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" is a popular choice for Christmas concerts and services. Willcocks also wrote a number of works for the stage, including the operas "The Witch of Edmonton" and "The Alchemist." He was a prolific composer, and his works were performed by many of the leading orchestras and choirs of his time. Throughout his career, Willcocks received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to music. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1971 and was knighted in 1977. He was also awarded the Queen's Medal for Music in 2010, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to British music. Willcocks continued to work as a conductor and composer well into his later years. He died on September 16, 2010, at the age of 94. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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