The Choir

The Farrant Singers was founded in 1958 by Richard Lloyd (then Assistant Organist of Salisbury Cathedral) to give performances of church music in the diocese.  The chamber group currently comprises around 36 singers and has broadened its repertoire to include a wide range of sacred and secular music, spanning many periods and styles. The choir gives two or three concerts in Salisbury annually and others around the region, as well as performing at weddings and celebrations.  It has toured to Paris, Leipzig, Turin and, most recently, Tuscany and also sings services in cathedrals around the United Kingdom.   It collaborates regularly with the Farrant Youth Orchestra and singers from local schools, in order to provide opportunities for young musicians to take part in music making of a high standard.  The latest local venture is involvement in the Chilcott Project, a musical collaboration between local choirs and schools, culminating in a performance of a new commission by Bob Chilcott in Salisbury Cathedral for the Salisbury International Arts Festival in 2009.

The Farrant Singers also sing for weddings and other parties, when requested. Contact the Secretary for more details.

The Conductor - Daniel Cook

Daniel Cook took over as conductor of The Farrant Singers in January 2009.

He has been Assistant Director of Music as Salisbury Cathedral since 2005, where, in addition to his work with the Cathedral choirs, his duties involve playing the organ for all major services, broadcasts, concerts and recordings and directing the recently formed Cathedral Chamber Choir. Outside of Salisbury he is Musical Director of the Grange Choral Society (a 160-strong mixed choir based in Christchurch).

Daniel received his early musical education at Durham Cathedral with Keith Wright. Following a year as Organ Scholar at Worcester Cathedral, he moved to London to take up a place at the Royal Academy of Music where he studied with Nicolas Kynaston, James O'Donnell, and Patrick Russill and participated in master classes with many of the world’s leading organists including Marie-Claire Alain, Lionel Rogg and Jon Laukvik. While at the Academy, he worked as Organ Scholar at Southwark Cathedral and Westminster Abbey before graduating with first-class honours in July, 2003. While still a student, he was appointed Assistant Organist at Westminster Abbey where he participated in many important national and international services including the 50th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation.

Daniel has twice been a finalist in the St Albans International Organ Competition. As a recitalist, he has played across England and Wales, as well as making appearances in Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy and Norway. Recent years have seen engagements in most of the cathedrals in Britain, several Oxbridge College Chapels and in Westminster Abbey's Summer Organ Festival. He is also well known as an accompanist and has worked with many of the distinguished vocal ensembles and choral groups in the UK such as the BBC Singers and the Holst Singers. In 2008 he performed the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen in six recitals to celebrate the centenary of his birth, and participated in a recording of contemporary organ music for the John Armitage Memorial and Choir and Organ magazine. His first solo organ recording (of the organ works of Sir Walter Alcock, recorded in Salisbury Cathedral) was released in January 2009.

Photos

At Salisbury Vespers, Salisbury Cathedral, May 2009 © Phil Simnett

At Salisbury Vespers, Salisbury Cathedral, May 2009 © Phil Simnett

Rehearsing Salisbury Vespers, Salisbury Cathedral, May 2009 © Phil Simnett

Rehearsing in the Quire, Canterbury Cathedral, March 2008 © Phil Simnett

Canterbury Cathedral, March 2008 © Phil Simnett