Role

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Composer Conductor  

Birth

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1979 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England

 

David Bednall is a British composer and organist, born on December 16, 1979, in Bristol, England. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a church organist and his mother a singer. Bednall began playing the piano at the age of four and started learning the organ at the age of nine. He attended Bristol Cathedral School, where he was a chorister and later became the organ scholar. Bednall went on to study music at The Queen's College, Oxford, where he was the organ scholar. He then pursued postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied composition with Edwin Roxburgh and organ with David Graham and Margaret Phillips. Bednall also studied privately with the renowned composer John Rutter. Bednall's compositions are primarily choral and organ works, and he has become one of the most sought-after composers of his generation. His music is known for its lyricism, harmonic richness, and sensitivity to text. Bednall's works have been performed by some of the world's leading choirs, including The Choir of King's College, Cambridge, The Sixteen, and The Choir of Westminster Abbey. One of Bednall's most famous works is his Requiem, which was commissioned by the Choir of St. Mary Redcliffe in Bristol. The Requiem was premiered in 2010 and has since been performed by numerous choirs around the world. The work is scored for choir, organ, and orchestra and is divided into seven movements. The Requiem is a deeply moving and spiritual work that has been praised for its beauty and emotional power. Another notable work by Bednall is his setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, which was commissioned by The Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge. The work is scored for choir and organ and is a stunning example of Bednall's ability to create music that is both beautiful and technically challenging. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis has become a staple of the choral repertoire and is regularly performed by choirs around the world. Bednall has also composed a number of works for solo organ, including his Toccata on "Veni Emmanuel," which is a virtuosic tour-de-force that showcases the full range of the organ. The Toccata has become one of Bednall's most popular works and is frequently performed in recitals and concerts. In addition to his work as a composer, Bednall is also an accomplished organist and has performed in some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Notre-Dame de Paris. He has also recorded several albums of his own music, including his Requiem and Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. Bednall is currently the Organist of The University of Bristol and Director of Music at Clifton College in Bristol. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and a member of the Royal Academy of Music. Bednall continues to compose and perform music that is both beautiful and spiritually uplifting, and his work has earned him a place among the most important composers of his generation.

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