Organ Recital Series: John Robinson

Date: 

Tuesday, September 23, 2014, 7:30pm

Location: 

The Memorial Church Sanctuary

John RobinsonJohn Robinson, Director of Music, The Church of St. Paul and St. Paul's Choir School, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Program: Franck’s Choral No. 2 in B minor and Vierne’s Symphony No. 5.

John Robinson is the Director of Music at St Paul’s Church, Harvard Square where he is responsible for the training and direction of The Choir of St. Paul’s in daily sung Mass, and oversees thriving Church and School Music departments. In serving the liturgy at St Paul’s Church, the choir of boys and men performs music ranging from Gregorian Chant, to Modern and Contemporary repertoire. Through liturgies, concerts and special events, the Choir maintains a presence both in Harvard Square and further afield. St. Paul’s Choir School, where the boys are educated is the only Roman Catholic boys Choir School in the USA.

Prior to his work at St. Paul’s, Mr. Robinson worked and received his education in England. Having initially been a chorister and organ pupil of Dr. Roy Massey at Hereford Cathedral, John became Organ Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral and subsequently at St John’s College Cambridge, where he worked with both Dr. Christopher Robinson and Dr. David Hill. Whilst at Cambridge, he accompanied the world famous choir of St John’s College on tours, broadcasts and recordings as well as in the daily round of sung services in the College Chapel. At Cambridge he won first prize in the Brian Runnett Organ competition, and in the Plymouth National Young Organists’ Competition. On graduating he was appointed Assistant Organist of Carlisle Cathedral, and subsequently Assistant Organist of Canterbury Cathedral. Since taking up the position, Mr. Robinson has played an active role in directing Catholic Youth Music festivals both at St. Paul’s and further afield, and has acted as advisor to a number of Church music appointments. As an Organist, Mr. Robinson’s recordings are available on the Priory, Hyperion, Herald, York Ambisonic and Syrinx labels.