Peter Holder (organist)
{{Short description|British organist and musician}}
{{About|the organist|the publisher and journalist|Peter Holder}}
Peter Holder is an English organist. He is the Organist of Christ Church, Oxford.
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Peter Holder
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| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
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| birth_date = {{Birth year|1990}}
| birth_place = Bewdley
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| occupations = Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey
Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey
Director of Music of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
| instrument = Organ
| years_active = 2010–present
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| website = {{URL|http://www.peterholdermusic.co.uk}}
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Education
Holder was educated as a chorister at Worcester Cathedral and at the King's School, Worcester.{{Cite web |title=Former city school student's prestigious role at the Queen's funeral |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/22311690.peter-holder-played-organ-majesty-queens-funeral/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Worcester News |date=19 September 2022 |language=en}} He passed the exams for Associateship of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO) in 2009, winning the Limpus, Frederick Shinn, Durrant, and Lord St Audries Prizes.{{Cite web |title=RCO News: RCO announces summer 2009 examination results |url=https://www.rco.org.uk/news_displaystory.php?newsid=123 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.rco.org.uk}} At the Royal Academy of Music in London, he undertook undergraduate and post-graduate studies, graduating in 2013 with HRH Princess Alice the Duchess of Gloucester’s Prize for exemplary studentship and winning the John Booth Prize in 2014,{{Cite web |title=Organ |url=https://www.ram.ac.uk/study/departments/organ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Royal Academy of Music |language=en-GB}} and was appointed Pidem Organ Fellow in 2014 and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2016.
Career
Holder held organ scholarships at Southwell Minster (2008–09),{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title='Immensely proud' of organist at Queen's state funeral |url=https://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/immensely-proud-of-organist-at-queens-state-funeral-9274742/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Newark Advertiser |language=en}} the Royal Hospital Chelsea (2009),{{Cite web |date=2013-08-01 |title=Organ Scholarship |url=https://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/organ-scholarship |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Royal Hospital Chelsea}} St Albans Cathedral (2010–12){{Cite web |title=Member Records – St Albans Cathedral Ex‑Choristers Association |url=http://www.stalbanseca.org/member-records/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |language=en-GB}} and Westminster Abbey (2012–14).{{Cite web |last=pixeltocode.uk |first=PixelToCode |title=Peter Holder |url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-biographies/peter-holder |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Westminster Abbey |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Peter Holder to become Westminster Abbey sub-organist |url=https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/choir_organ/peter-holder-become-westminster-abbey-sub-organist/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Rhinegold |language=en}} In 2014, he became the Sub-Organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, during which time he staged and performed in two Grand Organ Galas.{{Cite web |title=Classical Events: Grand Organ Gala |url=https://www.classicalevents.co.uk/concerts/st-pauls-cathedral/06-july-2017/19-00/grand-organ-gala |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Classical Events |date=6 July 2017 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=St Paul's Cathedral 2017 Organ Series | date=28 April 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teFqM1NA8GM |language=en |access-date=2022-09-21}}
In October 2017, Holder became Sub-Organist of Westminster Abbey.{{Cite web |title=Peter Holder (organ) on Hyperion Records |url=https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A14108 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Hyperion Records |language=en}} Holder was the organist for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022 at Westminster Abbey,{{Cite web |last=pixeltocode.uk |first=PixelToCode |title=The State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II |url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/the-state-funeral-of-hm-queen-elizabeth-ii |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Westminster Abbey |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Who is Peter Holder, the sub-organist at Westminster Abbey? |url=https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/peter-holder-organist-westminster-abbey/ |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Classical Music |date=10 September 2022 |language=en}} as well as for the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on 29 March 2022.{{Cite web |last=pixeltocode.uk |first=PixelToCode |title=The life of The Duke of Edinburgh celebrated at Service of Thanksgiving |url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/the-life-of-the-duke-of-edinburgh-celebrated-at-service-of-thanksgiving |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Westminster Abbey |language=en}}
In addition to his role as Sub-Organist, Holder is also an international recitalist.{{Cite web |title=Peter Holder |url=http://www.peterholdermusic.co.uk/about_peter_holder.asp |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.peterholdermusic.co.uk}}
In the opening concert of the BBC Proms 2019 season at the Royal Albert Hall, Holder was the organ soloist in the Glagolitic Mass by Leoš Janáček, conducted by Karina Canellakis.{{Cite web |title=Prom 1: First Night of the Proms |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ecj5q9 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=BBC Music Events |language=en}}{{cite news |author=Richard Morrison |date=22 July 2019 |title=Prom 1: First Night of the Proms; Prom 2: Bamberg SO/Hrusa |page=11 |newspaper=The Times}}{{cite news |author=Paul Driver |date=28 July 2019 |title=Vault of heaven; The Royal Albert Hall's cavernous acoustic came into its own at the start of the Proms, says Paul Driver |page=22 |newspaper=The Sunday Times}}{{Cite web |title=Organ Recital |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejqmzc |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=BBC Music Events |language=en}}{{cite magazine |author=Christopher Follett |date=1 November 2021 |title=BBC Proms 2021 |magazine=The Organ |issue=398 |page=60}} In 2021, as part of the Royal Albert Hall's 150th anniversary celebrations, Holder performed a solo organ recital at the Proms.{{Cite web |title=Organ Recital |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejqmzc |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=BBC Music Events |language=en}}
In June 2022, Holder joined the Board of Trustees for The Eric Thompson Charitable Trust for Organists and Organ Music.{{Cite web |title=Peter Holder joins the Eric Thompson Trust |url=https://www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk/CMT/CMT/Newsletter/Newsletter%20Articles/Cathedral-Voice/Peter-Holder-joins-the-Eric-Thompson-Trust.aspx |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk |language=en}}
Holder is also an organ tutor at the Royal Academy of Music.
He was appointed organist of Christ Church, Oxford in May 2024.{{cite web|website=Christ Church, University of Oxford|title=Christ Church announces appointment of new Organist|date=14 May 2024|url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/news/christ-church-announces-appointment-new-organist|access-date=14 November 2024}}
Recordings
Holder's first solo recording, 'Bach ist der Vater, wir sind die Buben' was produced at Neresheim Abbey in Germany.{{cite magazine |id={{ProQuest|2434043699}} |last1=Maxim |first1=Christopher |title=Bach ist der Vater, wir sind die Buben |magazine=Organists' Review |date=March 2020 |page=62 }}
Discography
- [https://fuguestatefilms.co.uk/product/bach-is-the-father-we-are-the-children/ Bach ist der Vater, wir sind die Buben] (Fugue State Films)
- [https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68259 Bairstow, Harris & Stanford: Choral works] (Hyperion, 2018)
- [https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68350 Dove, Weir & Martin (M): Choral works] (Hyperion, 2022)
- [https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.572836 Mendelssohn: Choral Music] (Naxos, 2012){{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/sep/30/mendelssohn-choral-st-albans-review |author=Stephen Pritchard |title=Mendelssohn: Choral Music – review |newspaper=The Observer |date=30 September 2012 |accessdate=30 September 2022}}
References
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Category:People educated at King's School, Worcester
Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music
Category:English classical organists
Category:British male organists
Category:Organists of Christ Church, Oxford