Dr. Robert Pecksmith, ARCO
Robert Pecksmith is a freelance organist based in York. 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 – and afterwards came to Toronto for Masters' level training in Latin. He completed his doctorate at the University of York in 2020 with a thesis on early medieval kingship. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Medieval Studies in Toronto.
Robert began his musical life aged 5 when he began learning the piano, achieving Grade 8 Distinction aged 13. He then decided to take up the organ, receiving lessons from Henry Fairs at the Birmingham Conservatoire for five years. During this time he regularly played for his parish church in Bournville and took part in masterclasses at Lincoln's Inn and St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. Upon reaching Oxford, Robert received lessons from Stephen Farr as well as achieving his ARCO diploma, for which he also received the Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize. He has had the pleasure of participating in numerous choir concerts and tours, notably at Blackburn Cathedral, Lancaster Priory, Ampleforth Abbey, Coventry Cathedral and three times at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. During his time at Oxford Robert performed in several recitals, including at Harris Manchester College, Oxford Town Hall and at Exeter College as well as participating in masterclasses led by David Goode, Guy Bovet, Thomas Trotter and William Whitehead. He has also been a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition on three occasions. In November 2013, Robert collaborated with conductor Nicholas Cleobury for a concert recorded by the BBC.
In summer 2014, Robert toured the east coast of America with the Choir of Somerville College, where he played for a service at Washington National Cathedral, as well as performing a solo recital at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston. Following this, he undertook five extensive solo recital tours of Germany, playing baroque Wagner and Silbermann organs as well as romantic instruments in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Bavaria. His first commercial solo CD for the German label JUBAL was released in April 2015.
Robert began his musical life aged 5 when he began learning the piano, achieving Grade 8 Distinction aged 13. He then decided to take up the organ, receiving lessons from Henry Fairs at the Birmingham Conservatoire for five years. During this time he regularly played for his parish church in Bournville and took part in masterclasses at Lincoln's Inn and St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. Upon reaching Oxford, Robert received lessons from Stephen Farr as well as achieving his ARCO diploma, for which he also received the Sowerbutts Prize and Durrant Prize. He has had the pleasure of participating in numerous choir concerts and tours, notably at Blackburn Cathedral, Lancaster Priory, Ampleforth Abbey, Coventry Cathedral and three times at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. During his time at Oxford Robert performed in several recitals, including at Harris Manchester College, Oxford Town Hall and at Exeter College as well as participating in masterclasses led by David Goode, Guy Bovet, Thomas Trotter and William Whitehead. He has also been a finalist in the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition on three occasions. In November 2013, Robert collaborated with conductor Nicholas Cleobury for a concert recorded by the BBC.
In summer 2014, Robert toured the east coast of America with the Choir of Somerville College, where he played for a service at Washington National Cathedral, as well as performing a solo recital at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston. Following this, he undertook five extensive solo recital tours of Germany, playing baroque Wagner and Silbermann organs as well as romantic instruments in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Bavaria. His first commercial solo CD for the German label JUBAL was released in April 2015.
Concert promoters, please use one of the the following versions of the text for programmes:
Konzertveranstalter benutzen bitte eine der folgenden Textfassungen für Programmhefte:
Konzertveranstalter benutzen bitte eine der folgenden Textfassungen für Programmhefte:
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