Organist appointments
Mel became Organist & Choir Director of Emmanuel Church, Holcombe in May 1989 and also plays elsewhere in a "freelance" capacity when time permits.
picture above left taken at Bury Parish Church, above right at St Chrysostom, Manchester
Organ appointments have been:
1989- Organist & Choir director
Emmanuel Holcombe Lancashire 1980-85 Organist & Choir director St. Mary The Virgin Linton Cambridgeshire 1976-77 Organist & Choir director St. John The Baptist, Upperby Carlisle Cumbria 1976-76 Organist Wigton Road Methodist Church Carlisle Cumbria 1972-74 Organist & Choir director St. Anne's Church, Turton Bolton Lancashire 1968-72 Organist St Thomas Aquinas R. C. Church Darlington Co. Durham
The hyperlinks connect to pages in the database of the National Pipe Organ Register which describe the instruments.
Study
From 1968 - 71 organ study was as a pupil of Hector C Parr FRCO and reached Associated Board Organ Grade 7 standard. From 1971 to 74 study continued with Dr Conrad Eden at Durham Cathedral and the Associate Diploma of Trinity College, London was achieved as a "teacher" of organ.
In later years, study has been limited to a few residential courses, the occasional 'masterclass/workshop', various day courses organised by the Manchester Area of the RSCM and two residential courses at Addington Palace (Understanding The Organ, directed by Anne Bond) in October 1992 and October 1993. Modules of the Foundation Certificate in Church Music Course of the RSCM were successfully comleted with the courses "Psalm Hymns & Spiritual Songs" and "Directing a Choir", the latter being led by Mike Brewer during 1995 at Huddersfield University.
Other sections of the course successfully completed included the "Accompanying a Service" module run by Martin How at Hope College, Liverpool during the spring of 1997 and the "Communications and Management" section run by Derek Froud in the autumn of 1997.
Melanie is not under the guidance of any teacher at present and practise is largely on her generously resourced home instrrument.
Secular Music
Although most of the musical efforts are directed towards church music, Melanie has broad interests and has been musical director for stage shows including this Bolton Little Theatre production of Noel and Gertie. It was some years earlier that she confirmed it was an error for her also to attempt acting and singing on-stage! Ocassional duties as a deputy on keyboards/bass with a semi-professional band have kept the breadth of musical styles alive.
Background
Melanie is a confirmed member of the Anglican Church. Her main daytime work is as an audio consultant, actively involved with DK-Technologies A/S and has recently also worked with Calrec Audio Ltd as a Regional Sales Manager. She works also as an audio engineer providing music/audio-engineering services including location digital sound recording for CD and broadcast. Since 2002, she has been Membership Secretary of the British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS).
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