David Hill

Composers

Biography

Born: May 13, 1957; Carlisle, England  
Though he began his career ostensibly as an organist, David Hill emerged as one of the most important English choral conductors from the turn-of-the-twenty first century era. Hill has also conducted orchestras, notably the Philharmonia and Bournemouth symphony orchestras, but it is his choral work, particularly with regard to the music of Spanish Renaissance composers and that of nineteenth and twentieth century English composers, that has Read more afforded him his greatest triumphs. Hill has made over 50 recordings, mostly for the Hyperion and Regis Records labels.

Hill was born in Carlisle, England, on May 13, 1957. He was a gifted child, studying organ at Chetham's Music School in Manchester, where at 14 he also developed an interest in conducting. At the Royal College of Organists three years later he was made a Fellow. He went on to study at St. John's, Cambridge, under George Guest. Other important teachers included Gillian Weir and Peter Hurford.

After his graduation from St. John's, Hill's career quickly advanced with a prestigious series of important posts: he served as sub-organist at Durham Cathedral (1980-1982), music director of the Alexandra Choir (1980-1987), master of music at Westminster Cathedral (1982), organist and master of music at Winchester Cathedral (1987-2002), and then music director of the Waynflete Singers (1987-2002).

A year before taking his Winchester and Waynflete posts, Hill was appointed associate conductor of the Philharmonia Chorus. Later he would serve as its artistic director until 1997. Amid all this activity Hill was busy in the recording studio, as well: his series of Victoria albums for Hyperion began to appear in 1983 with the release O Quam gloriosum, Hill leading the Westminster Choir. He continued to turn out recordings throughout the 1980s and '90s and into the new century, championing little-known works, as with the three volumes of Stanford choral pieces on Hyperion (1997), as well as repertory staples like Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli on the same label (1993).

Hill became music director at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 2003, and that same year donned his organist's cap when appeared as soloist on the Regis Records' CD Cathedral Organ Classics. In 2006 he was active as an organ recitalist, appearing throughout England, including at the International Organ Festival held in St. Alban's. Read less
Browse 1-4 of 4 Available Recordings
  • 1.
    The Complete Argo Recordings / The Choir of St. John's College Cambridge, Guest
    The Complete Argo Recordings / The Choir of St. John's College Cambridge, Guest
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 4831252 Release Date: 06/23/2017   Number of Discs: 42
    Composer:  Otto Goldschmidt,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Alastair Roberts,  Peter White,  George Guest,  Owen Brannigan  ... 
    Conductor:  George Guest
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cambridge St. John's College Choir,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  London Brass  ... 
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  • 2.
    Mahler: Complete Symphonies / Tennstedt
    Mahler: Complete Symphonies / Tennstedt
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 627828 Release Date: 09/02/2014   Number of Discs: 11
    Composer:  Gustav Mahler
    Performer:  David Hill
    Conductor:  Klaus Tennstedt
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  • 3.
    Organ Classics - Bach, Franck, Meyerbeer, Etc / David Hill
    Organ Classics - Bach, Franck, Meyerbeer, Etc / David Hill
    Label: Griffin   Catalog: 4027 Release Date: 08/28/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Franz Liszt,  Johannes Brahms,  Camille Saint-Saëns  ... 
    Performer:  David Hill
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  • 4.
    Purcell: Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary / David Hill
    Purcell: Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary / David Hill
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 436833 Release Date: 04/12/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Henry Purcell
    Performer:  Crispian Steele-Perkins,  Michael Laird,  Robert Howes,  Colin Sheen  ... 
    Conductor:  David Hill
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Baroque Brass of London,  Winchester Cathedral Choir,  Brandenburg Consort
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