Mark Stanley - Organist and Musical Director

Mark was born in 1966 and lives and works in South Oxfordshire. Early years as a chorister led to a passion for the Church, its music and an introduction to the organ. He is now a committed church musician playing both organ and piano and has held the post of Director of Music and Organist at the parish church of St Peter's Didcot since 1995.

Mark studied the Tenor voice with the distinguished soprano April Cantelo.

Being at home with opera, lied, oratorio and particularly English song he has extensive experience as a soloist and can be found frequently on concert platforms throughout the country.

He has a passion for the Second English Renaissance School and he has sung much of the choral repertoire as a Tenor soloist and also Opera roles in concert performances, which include:

Mark has sung Bach’s major works, cantatas and works of Haydn, Schubert, Monteverdi.

Committed to new and modern music he has performed works by Berg, Taverner, Part and taken part in first performances of works by David Mitcham, Hugh Collins-Rice and Steven Russell.

Engagements have included:

“The five Mystical songs” by R.V Williams, “Requiem” Durufle and “Messiah” Part 1 for the Coventry Philharmonic Society in Coventry Cathedral and “Hodie” R.V Williams for the Knutsford singers. The Creation and the Nelson Mass by Haydn & Inno Dello Natzione by Verdi and Puccini’s “Messe di Gloria” with the Oxford Symphony Orchestra.

In the past year he has also performed the title role in “Samson” by Handel and was Tenor soloist in the first performance outside of the original recording of “Eternal Light” by Howard Goodall with the Coventry Philharmonic Society and the Ancient and Amicable Society of Musicians.