ANDREW PARNELL

Organ, Conductor, Harpsichord, Harmonium.

Andrew Parnell comes from Buxton, in Derbyshire. As a boy, he won a choral scholarship to Southwell Minster, and became Head Chorister there (and later, served as a Lay-clerk in the Minster choir). He began organ studies with Kenneth Beard while at Southwell, gaining the Associate Diploma of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 17, before winning the Organ Scholarship at Christ's College, University of Cambridge, where he continued to study organ with Nicolas Kynaston. The Fellowship Diploma of the Royal College of Organists followed at the age of 19, when Andrew won the Limpus and Shinn prizes for the best organ playing in that year's FRCO diploma examinations. He became Director of Music at St. James' Church, Cambridge, a year later.

A move to Hertfordshire came when he was appointed in 1976 as Assistant Master of the Music to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban by Peter Hurford. He accompanied the Cathedral Choir in numerous broadcasts on radio and television and featured on several acclaimed recordings. Additionally, he was appointed Music Master and Choir Director at St. Albans School and Conductor of the St. Albans Symphony Orchestra. He also founded the St. Albans Abbey Girls' Choir in 1996.

Andrew Parnell stayed at St. Albans until the Summer of 2001, when he relinquished his posts there and moved to West Norfolk with his family, in order to develop his career as a freelance player and teacher. Since then, he has accompanied Norwich Cathedral Girls Choir on tour in Holland, has deputised as Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster and at the Cathedrals of Ely, Canterbury and Wakefield, while also fulfilling many engagements as organ soloist or accompanist. He became Conductor of Ely Choral Society in September 2002 and of Wymondham Symphony Orchestra in February 2003.

Andrew Parnell plays harpsichord (both solo and continuo) and harmonium (in performances of the Rossini "Petite Messe Solenelle", for example ) and is a regular organ recitalist, giving solo recitals in many venues on both sides of the Atlantic (including a performance of Widor’s Fifth Symphony in the Royal Albert Hall, London). He is popular as an accompanist for choral societies, chamber choirs and soloists and has appeared with the major London choirs on many occasions. Andrew can be heard accompanying the BBC Singers on Radio 3 from time to time and has often directed or accompanied the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4.

"...playing of utter conviction". "...sympathetic performance"
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW, the magazine of the Incorporated Association of Organists);
"Andrew Parnell’s playing is first class" (LAUDATE, the magazine of the Guild of Church Musicians);
"...beautifully delicate organ playing from Andrew Parnell". (SACRED & SECULAR);
(performance of the Berlioz Te Deum):
"Andrew Parnell excelled in his control and direction of the large forces in front of him." (SACRED & SECULAR).

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