Robert Quinney (born 1976 in

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east ...

, England) is Director of the Choir of New College, Oxford, and was formerly Sub-Organist at

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

and Director of Music at

Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Church of England, Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Sain ...

. In addition to his work at New College, he has a busy freelance career as soloist, ensemble player, and

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

on music. From October 2009 till 2014 he was Director of Oundle for Organists, whose residential courses provide inspiring tuition for young organists. In 2002 Quinney was named Royal College of Organists Performer of the Year.

Education and early career

Robert Quinney was born in Nottingham and was a chorister at Dundee Cathedral and then at

All Saints Church, Ecclesall All Saints is a Church of England parish church in Sheffield, England. It is a Grade II listed building, and is located in Ecclesall, between Ringinglow Road and Ecclesall Road South. All Saints' emergent youth and young adults congregation i ...

, where he learned to play the organ. He attended

Silverdale School Silverdale School is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form with academy status, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is the founding school of Chorus Education Trust (formerly Silverdale Multi-Academy Trust). It opened in 1957 ...

and then received a sixth-form full academic scholarship to

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

, which Eton offers to pupils from state schools. On leaving Eton he spent a year as organ scholar of

Winchester Cathedral The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,Historic England. "Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity (1095509)". ''National Heritage List for England''. Retrieved 8 September 2014. Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun, commonly known as Winches ...

and Assistant Organist of

Winchester College Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of the ...

. He was then organ scholar at

King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Formally The King's College of Our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge, the college lies beside the River Cam and faces out onto King's Parade in the centre of the city ...

from 1995 to 1998. On graduating from Cambridge (with BA and M.Phil. degrees) Quinney became Acting Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey.

Career at Westminster

After a year as Acting Sub Organist at Westminster Abbey, Robert Quinney moved to

Westminster Cathedral Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. It is the largest Catholic church in the UK and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster. The site on which the cathedral stands in the City of ...

as Assistant Master of Music in September 2000. In addition to daily work with Westminster Cathedral Choir, he organised and gave many of the Cathedral's

recital A concert is a live music performance in front of an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, choir, or band. Concerts are held in a wide variety an ...

s. In 2001 he became the fourth organist to play the monumental Passion Symphony ''Christus'' by Francis Pott. After moving back to Westminster Abbey in 2004 he performed with the Abbey Choir on concert tours to the United States and Australia, and on a series of recordings for Hyperion. He was the principal organist for many special and daily services held at the Abbey. He won the

Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists (RCO) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and de ...

Performer of the Year competition in 2002. His double disc ''The Grand Organ of Westminster Cathedral'' has been widely acclaimed. Quinney is also active as a continuo player and writer on music. His ''Short Service'' for boys' voices was written for the choristers of Westminster Abbey and first performed in 2008. He played the organ for the

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in the Abbey on 29 April 2011, accompanying the choir and congregation.

Career at Peterborough

He became the Director of Music at

in April 2013, where he oversaw repitching of the cathedral's organ.

New College, Oxford

In February 2014, Quinney was announced as Associate Professor in the Faculty of Music at the University of Oxford, and Organist and Tutorial Fellow in Music at New College, succeeding the retiring

Edward Higginbottom Edward Higginbottom, DPhil (Oxon), BMus (Cantab), (born 16 November 1946, Kendal) is a music scholar, organist, choirmaster and conductor. Most of his career has been as organist at New College, Oxford, where he led their choir for more than 35 ...

, a post taking effect from July 2014

Discography

Partial discography:
Parry: Songs of Farewell and other choral works
(Novum, September 2018)
The Gate of Heaven: Favourite Anthems from New College
(Novum, 2017)
Like as the Hart: Music for the Templar's Garden
(Novum, 2017)
Nowell Sing We! Advent and Christmas at New College
(Novum, 2016)
John Blow: Symphony Anthems
(Novum, 2016)
J S Bach: Trio Sonatas
(Coro, 2011)
The Organ of Westminster Abbey: music by Elgar
(Signum, 2011) * A New Heaven (Universal) – Organist for

The Sixteen The Sixteen are a United Kingdom-based choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers, they started as an unnamed group of sixteen friends in 1977, giving their first billed concert in 1979. The group performs early Engl ...

* A Christmas Caroll from Westminster Abbey (Hyperion) – Organist for the Abbey Choir * The Feast of the Ascension at Westminster Abbey (Hyperion) – Organist for the Abbey Choir * The Organ of Westminster Cathedral – 2004 (Signum) (Gramophone Editor's Choice, BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Disc of the Month)
O Sapientia: Advent from King's College London
– 2003 (Herald) – Organist for the

Choir of King's College London The Choir of King's College London is a mixed-voice choir whose primary function is to lead services in the Renaissance Revival chapel of King's College London. Since its revival in 1945, the choir has gained an international reputation as one o ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quinney, Robert 1976 births Living people People educated at Eton College Alumni of King's College, Cambridge People from Nottingham English classical organists British male organists Fellows of New College, Oxford Organists of New College, Oxford 21st-century organists 21st-century British male musicians Organ Scholars of King's College, Cambridge People educated at Silverdale School, Sheffield Male classical organists