WEDD, PATRICK

Patrick Wedd, organ

Canadian born Patrick Wedd directed his first church choir at the age of twelve. Having obtained degrees in organ performance from the Universities of Toronto and British Columbia, he began his professional career in Vancouver where he served for many years as Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral. In 1986 he moved to Montreal to become Artistic Director of the Tudor Singers, a professional ensemble which toured extensively in Canada, and Music Director of the Church of St Andrew and St Paul. In 1991 he became Music Director of the Church of St John the Evangelist. Since September 1996 he has assumed the position of Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal. Patrick Wedd has played recitals in Canada, the United States, Australia and England. He has appeared as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal and the Orchestra of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and his recordings include contemporary music for the Canadian Music Centre, light classics for the CBC, and the Poulenc and Jongen concertos with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He has given many workshops and conductors’ master-classes, and for three years was in charge of the choral programme of the Faculty of Music at the Universite de Montreal. He is currently Artistic Director of the Montreal Boys' Choir Course, and Founder/Director of the choral ensemble Musica Orbium. A recording of Christmas music with the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral appears on the ATMA label, and a disc of music for trombone and organ with renowned virtuoso Alain Trudel is already available on Naxos. Patrick Wedd has composed and arranged extensively, chiefly for the church, and has received commissions from church groups and choral associations across Canada. He was a member of the National Task Force for the new Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and has received an honorary Doctorate in Divinity from the Montreal Diocesan Theological College (Anglican) in recognition of his contribution to the life and work of the Church. He is frequently heard as host and commentator on CBC radio. He has presented cycles of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen, Jehan Alain, Nicolas de Grigny and Kenneth Leighton, and has made recital appearances on the regular series of the Societe de musique contemporaine du Quebec, the Festival "Orgue et couleurs" and the Montreal Bach Festival.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
WILLAN: Organ Works	8.557375