The Artistic Director

Martin Neary's early musical education was as one of the Children of H.M.'s Chapels Royal.  At Cambridge University, where he read theology and music, he was organ scholar of Gonville and Caius College. His principal appointments have been Organist and Choirmaster at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster (1965-71), Organist and Master of the Choristers at Winchester Cathedral (1972-87) and at Westminster Abbey (1988-98). As conductor, he has championed the works of many contemporary composers, in particular Jonathan Harvey and John Tavener, with over 30 premieres.  He has also been very much a part of the early music movement in England; in 1978 he conducted the first complete performance of Bach's Saint Matthew Passion with period instruments.   His numerous recordings include a highly praised CD of Coronation music and two CDs of the Psalms, while his CD of Purcell's music for Queen Mary, with the Westminster Abbey Choir was nominated for a Grammy.
  
From 1999 to 2001 Martin Neary was the founder/conductor of the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir. Since 1999 he has also spent a considerable amount of time in Los Angeles, where he has been Music Director of the Paulist Choristers of California. In 2001 he was Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Bach Festival at First Congregational Church. During his time in LA he also had engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.  He is active as a composer, and in 2001 he was the featured composer at the Tucson, Arizona Church Music Festival.  

He continues to pursue his career as organist, guest conductor and writer--he has written the introduction to a new translation of all the Bach cantatas. Recent engagements include playing at the opening night of the 2004 BBC Proms, recitals at St. John's, Smith Square in London, with his daughter, Alice featuring Bach's gamba sonatas, and  conducting the Netherlands Chamber Choir ,  and the Netherlands Radio Choir. In 2007 he is spending part of the spring semester as Artist-in-residence at UC Davis.  
 
Martin Neary uniquely has served two terms as President of the Royal College of Organists.  His awards include an honorary doctorate of music from Southampton University , and his appointment by the Queen as Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1998 New Year's Honours, in respect of his services at the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.