Dr. Robert Pecksmith, ARCO
Robert Pecksmith is the Assistant Master of the Music at Buckfast Abbey. Previously he was Assistant Organist of The Cathedral Church of St James, Toronto (2021–22), of Wakefield Cathedral (2020–21) and the Assistant Director of Music at the York Oratory between 2015 and 2020. In 2014–15 he served as the Assistant Organist at St. Paul's Bloor Street, the largest Anglican church in Toronto. Alongside these appointments Robert has pursued studies in medieval history. In 2014, Robert graduated from the University of Oxford with a first-class degree in history – where he was also organ scholar at Somerville College, Oxford. He completed his doctorate at the University of York in 2020 with a thesis on early medieval kingship.
Robert began to learn organ at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received lessons from Henry Fairs. In the years that followed, while at Oxford, Robert achieved his ARCO diploma, for which he won the Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize. He participated in numerous choir tours, occasional services at cathedrals and major churches (including three times as organist for evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral), and masterclasses. In November 2013, Robert collaborated with conductor Nicholas Cleobury for a concert recorded by the BBC. Robert also developed his profile as a recitalist, giving concerts at Oxford and then further afield, including five solo recital tours in Germany. His first commercial solo CD, a live recording of one of these concerts, was released by the German label JUBAL in April 2015. He also featured as a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. More recently Robert has developed his playing as a liturgical organist, gaining proficiency as an improviser, and as a performer of liturgical organ compositions.
Robert began to learn organ at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he received lessons from Henry Fairs. In the years that followed, while at Oxford, Robert achieved his ARCO diploma, for which he won the Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize. He participated in numerous choir tours, occasional services at cathedrals and major churches (including three times as organist for evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral), and masterclasses. In November 2013, Robert collaborated with conductor Nicholas Cleobury for a concert recorded by the BBC. Robert also developed his profile as a recitalist, giving concerts at Oxford and then further afield, including five solo recital tours in Germany. His first commercial solo CD, a live recording of one of these concerts, was released by the German label JUBAL in April 2015. He also featured as a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. More recently Robert has developed his playing as a liturgical organist, gaining proficiency as an improviser, and as a performer of liturgical organ compositions.
