Alan's Music Page

Alan R J Hunt FFA DipRSCM - Personal Profile

My musical education started at the age of 11 at Secondary Modern School with the recorder and violin. A year later I changed to the viola and started piano lessons. Moving to Beths Technical High School at the age of 13 put an end to viola lessons, as music did not form part of the syllabus at that school unlike now at Beths Grammar School.

I had organ lessons with Dr. Joanna Fraser at St. Stephen, Walbrook for about eighteen months until the pressure of accountancy exams took over. A lovely instrument and now rebuilt with a mobile console.

I was a choir member and assistant organist at St. Paul’s Church, Northumberland Heath for many years and have regularly deputised at other churches. In 1980 I was invited to take the position of Organist & Choirmaster. The organ is by R Spurden Rutt and is a four rank extension organ.

I had an SATB choir of approximately eighteen adults and twenty children. The main service was Family Service at 10.30am on Sunday mornings with congregations of around 100 to 150. An informal evening service was held at 6.30pm with congregations of around 35.

Regular Weddings during the year required Choir and Organist. We had a small orchestra of about 10 instrumentalists who played for special occasions. There were occasional choral evensongs and the choir sang a variety of anthems on different occasions, although not every week. Diocesan Choir Festivals were regularly attended. We also had a music group consisting of two guitarists and two singers who regularly helped lead worship. I was Chairman of the Music Committee, which was made up of representatives from the choir, music group, P.C.C. and clergy. This group met monthly to arrange the music for the month and to consider other matters relating to worship generally.

 
In 2001 we moved to St. Michael's Church, Wilmington near Dartford where I was a team organist with a Norman & Beard 1912 three manual pneumatic instrument. There is a small choir and music group. The work load is considerably less than before. From 1st February 2005, I have taken on the job of  Choirmaster as well as sharing the organ playing with others.

 
 I have attended many training courses over the years at the Diocese, the RSCM, RCO and elsewhere. The courses have included choir training, singing, composing, organists courses and three summer schools. I have regularly attended the Sarum College course which gives opportunities to play the Salisbury Cathedral organ.

In 1992 I started organ lessons with Anne Marsden Thomas at St. Giles, Cripplegate in London. In 1995 I passed AB Grade 5 Theory and completed AB Grade 5 Organ Performance Assessment. In 1998 I passed Grade 6 Organ examination (with Merit). I have continued with Grade 7 & Grade 8 pieces.

In 2003 I changed teachers from Anne to Catherine Ennis at St.  Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall in the City of London where there is a  fine new three manual Klais Organ. 

I recently completed the RSCM Foundation Certificate in Church Music. In October 2007 I completed the CertRSCM and continued working with the University of Bangor towards the Diploma & Higher Education Certificate in Sacred Music Studies which I completed and passed in March 2009.

I have recently had lessons with Jonathan Bunney, Organist at St. Giles in the Fields, who helped me with my Sacred Music Studies final project. 

In 2006 I started to learn the clarinet with Marc Naylor. I play in a small wind group and also Dartford Concert Band. In 2008 I also took up the Bassoon and have lessons with Andrew Denyer. See my Bassoon page.
                    
          

 Anthems are sung regularly and there are occasional choir concerts and special services led by the choir. In the last few years the choir have sung Maunder's 'Olivet to Calvary', 'Jerusalem Joy' by Roger Jones and the 'Crucifixion' by John Stainer.

St. Michael's has a junior that meets in church on Friday evenings from 7:00pm until 7:45pm. Young people aged between 7 and 19 years are very welcome to come along. The junior choir was formed in 2008 but has already sung in church on several occasions.