Philip Rushforth

Philip Rushforth
Born1972 (age 53–54)
Chester
OccupationOrganist

Philip Rushforth (born 1972) is an arranger and classical composer who has served as the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chester Cathedral since 2009. He has collaborated with David Hill and Stephen Layton.

Biography

Rushforth was a cathedral chorister at Chester Cathedral. He was tutored by Roger Fisher. In 1991, he was appointed as an organ scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was directed by Dr Richard Marlow. Rushforth was also taught by David Sanger.

Career

Southwell

In 1994, he took up the post of Assistant Organist at Southwell Minster and co-founded the Southwell Minster Chorale. He worked with the chorale for eight years.

Chester

In September 2002 he was appointed assistant director of music at Chester Cathedral. Between December 2007 and January 2008, Rushforth was appointed director of music and organist. In 2015, he appeared on BBC Radio 2 on The Organist Entertains: Battle of the Organs. In 2018, he conducted Fauré's Requiem alongside John Lubbock. In 2024, he conducted the choir and a group of musicians from the North West at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson.

Works

Discography

Awards and achievements

In September 2000, he was a finalist in the Royal College of Organists' Performer of the Year award, performing with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Rumon Gamba. In 2020 he was awarded an honorary Associateship of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) for "achievements in church music of national significance". These include several years volunteering for the former RCSM Chester Area Committee, and for volunteering for Region One in the north of England.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Henwood, Jo (11 January 2008). "Ex-chorister is new director of music". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "The dedicated team behind Chester Cathedral". Chester Cathedral. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "Alumni Activities". Trinity College Cambridge. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Organ Recital – Philip Rushforth". St Mary's Edinburgh. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Come, Come, My Voice | Lammas Records". lammas.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Past and current organ scholars". The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Philip Rushforth". Chester Cathedral. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "RCO News: David Sanger – A Musical Celebration: 5th March". www.rco.org.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Philip Rushforth – Vox Organi" (in German). Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Philip Rushforth aus Chester für zwei Konzerte zu Gast". www.leine-solling.de (in German). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 – The Organist Entertains, Battle of the Organs, Battle of the Organs: Chester Cathedral, January 2015 – Battle of the Organs, Chester Cathedral (l-r): Nigel Ogden, Philip Rushforth, Geoffrey Woollatt, Benjamin Chewter". BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "BBC Radio 2 – The Organist Entertains, Battle of the Organs, Battle of the Organs: Chester Cathedral, January 2015 – Chester Cathedral Organ – pipework". BBC. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "Classical Events: A Concert of Remembrance". Classical Events. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  14. ↑ Chantler-Hicks, Lydia (7 June 2024). "Duke of Westminster ties knot in society wedding of year – live". The Standard. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "Duke of Westminster: Royals attend wedding of 'Britain's most eligible bachelor' – who was there (and who wasn't)". Sky News. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  16. ↑ Conrieri, Stefania (7 June 2024). "Il duca di Westminster sposa Olivia Henson: foto e racconto dal matrimonio dell'anno". Vanity Fair Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Reviews December 2024". RSCM. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "Whitlock and Hylton Stewart – The Organ of Chester Cathedral | Britain's Premier Church Music Label". www.prioryrecords.co.uk.
  19. ↑ "The Great British Wedding Album". Presto Music. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "The Grand Organ of Chester Cathedral". Presto Music.
  21. ↑ "J S Bach from Chester: (includes Fantasia & Fugue in G minor BWV 542 and other works)". Presto Music. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "Choral Classics from Chester – The Choir of Chester Cathedral – Organists: Andrew Wyatt and Rachel Mahon – Directed by Philip Rushforth | Britain's Premier Church Music Label". www.prioryrecords.co.uk.
  23. ↑ "Richard Lambert: Music for Brass and Organ | Toccata Music Group | Toccata Classics | Toccata Press | Toccata Next". toccataclassics.com.
  24. ↑ "Royal School of Church Music awards". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  25. ↑ "Honorary Awards". RSCM. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "Royal School of Church Music awards". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  27. ↑ RCSM Celebration Day Order of Service 2020 The Royal School of Church Music Retrieved 5 September 2025