Just in: Westminster Abbey has new head of music
NewsThe new Organist and Master of Choristers at Westminster Abbey is to be Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge.
He succeeds James O’Donnell, who is leaving after Christmas to be professor at Yale School of Music.
Andrew Nethsingha, who has been at St John’s for 15 years, said: ‘I am excited to have been appointed to direct the music at Westminster Abbey. It will be a great privilege to contribute to the worship in a building of such beauty and historical significance. Following the work of his eminent predecessors, James O’ Donnell has created a choir of enormous distinction, comprising choristers from the unique Abbey Choir School and some of the world’s finest adult choral singers. I have been struck by the warmth and friendliness of the Abbey community, of which my family and I look forward to becoming a part. At the same time I will greatly miss St John’s, another of the world’s finest choral foundations. I have been immensely happy there and I will be forever grateful to my wonderful colleagues at both College and College School, and to all the supremely talented people with whom I have been privileged to make music over the past fifteen years.’
An inspired choice.
The abbey and its musicians go from strength to strength.
This is wonderful news. I’m just old enough to remember his dear and very talented dad too.
A good appointment. Congratulations, Andrew! Your father would have been thrilled by this news.
His father Lucian Nethsingha performed this role at Exeter Cathedral for many years.