Alexander Woodrow (Director of Music) is the Organist and Director of Music at Leeds Minster and the Director of Music of the St Peter's Singers of Leeds. Following initial positions at Guildford Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral and Hexham Abbey, Alex was for almost five years the Organist and Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral, where he served as the youngest cathedral organist in the country. During this time, he was responsible for the choral music at Bradford Grammar School, later moving from Bradford to work at Solihull School as the Head of Choral Music. Alex read music as Organ Scholar at Magdalene College, Cambridge, studying with Anne Page. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 19, winning first prizes in all categories, including the Limpus Prize. He is also a Fellow of Trinity College London and a recipient of the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Alex has regularly broadcast on BBC Radio and Television, as both organist and conductor, from Bradford, Solihull, and Leeds. He continues to give organ recitals throughout the country, and performances have taken him to many of the major churches and cathedrals of the UK, including York Minster, St John's and King’s Colleges, Cambridge, and Westminster Abbey.
FAREWELL DANIEL - TILL WE MEET AGAIN.
Daniel Gordon is standing down from his post as the choir’s conductor this summer and is handing over the baton to our accompanist Alex Woodrow.
It is hard to put into words just how highly the choir regard Daniel, both as a musician and as a person; his support and sound musical advice have been second to none, and he has the profound respect and affec-tion of every single member of the choir. Daniel joined us in 2017 and stayed in contact with us throughout the eighteen-month Covid break, finally re-starting rehearsals with us in the autumn of 2021.
This evening some of you will see and hear him at the piano for the first time, when you will appreciate just how talented a pianist he is when he accompanies our guest, flautist Sinéad Walsh.
The choir wish Daniel all the very best for the future, wherever his musi-cal gifts take him, but we really hope it is “Adieu” and not “Goodbye.” Daniel, do keep in touch with us; it has been a privilege to sing with you these last few years; please accept our warmest thanks.
From all your friends at the Huddersfield Singers.
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President
Susan Wilkinson
Secretary
Pam Sykes
Treasurer
Pete Smith
Choir Mascot
Toby Smykes
