The Founder of the Abbey Singers
ANDREW SEIVEWRIGHT: Master of the Music Emeritus Carlisle Cathedral
A music graduate of King's College, Cambridge, Andrew Seivewright went there
originally to study Classics, switching to Music after four years in The Royal
Air Force.
At Cambridge he studied composition with Patrick Hadley and Robin Orr, and
took organ lessons with Harold Darke and Boris Ord. After further studies with
Francis Jackson at York Minster he became Organist and master of the Music at
Carlisle Cathedral in 1960.
During his thirty years tenure of this position Andrew Seivewright directed
the Choir of professional men and boys in the Daily Office of Evensong,
broadcasting regularly on Radio and Television, and making numerous recordings
both as conductor and solo organist.
In 1962 he formed the Abbey Singers, a mixed choir which gained a wide
reputation through recordings and regular tours of Europe and North America. He
also worked in various other capacities for Radio and Television, writing and
presenting programmes and directing a TV Choir for whom he made arrangements of
all types from Bach to Beatles.
Since relinquishing his Cathedral post in 1991 Andrew Seivewright devotes as
much time as possible to composing, while at the same time pursuing an active
career as Lecturer, Recitalist and Critic. He is also organist of the beautiful
Wordsworth Church of Grasmere.
His 'Celebration Overture' was premiered by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra in 1991, in which same year his 'Five Vermont Impressions' were given
by Abbey Singers on a coast-to-coast USA tour.
The anthem 'Loving Shepherd' won the Royal School of Church Music Harold
Smart Competition in 1995. Recent compositions have been broadcast on Radio 3
and Classic FM, and Abbey Singers have recorded the carol 'Lullaby of the
Madonna' and the anthem 'The God of Love'.
An enthusiast for 20th century arts and music Andrew Seivewright is a
reviewer for the British Music Society and had promoted concerts involving
personal appearances by such composers as John Taverner, Richard Rodney Bennett
and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
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