Contributing Organists
Graham Eccles, United Kingdom
Graham Eccles first studied the organ at Worksop College in Nottinghamshire; and during this time he gained his LTCL and ARCO diplomas. Subsequently, he studied under Ronald Frost at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and was appointed Boddington Organ Scholar at St Ann's Church. As well as graduating from the college with an upper division diploma, he gained the Diploma in Professional Performance and the Alice Shawcross prize in Church music. He also achieved the ARCM and FRCO diplomas at this time. More recently, he has been awarded the diploma in Choral Directing from the Royal College of Organists, gaining the Brook Memorial Prize.
Graham was appointed Assistant Organist at Chester Cathedral in 1989, where he played a key role in the musical life of the city, both in and out of the Cathedral. Then in 1998, he became Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Asaph Cathedral in North Wales. At the beginning of 2004, Graham became a freelance musician, and as well as teaching and performing locally, he is one of the regular organists for the Daily Service on BBC Radio 4, and also occasionally directs the singers. He is a visiting tutor in organ at the University of Wales, Bangor and is Deputy Conductor of St Asaph and Colwyn Bay Choral Societies. He is in regular demand as an organ accompanist by many choirs and Choral Societies of the North West, and has played many times with the RLPO and Hallé Orchestras. Notable recital engagements have taken place in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Cantù, Italy; the Cathedral of Sens, France; Memphis, New York and Atlanta, USA. At very short notice, he was asked to play two concerts in Sardinia, in the 8th International Organ Festival, while in 2002, he participated in the Keyboard Festival at the Conservatorium of Music in Newcastle, Australia.