Mark Hammond (Organ) was born in Hampshire and has been organist of St Edmund The
King, Northwood Hills since September 2000. He read music at Peterhouse, Cambridge University where he
was organ scholar. After graduating, Mark studied for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at The
College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham University where he was also College Assistant Organist. For thirty four years until his retirement in 2022, Mark was
Assistant Director of Music at St Margaret's School in Bushey, an independent school for pupils aged 4
to 18. With the school's Chapel Choir, Mark played the organ in such venues as St Paul's
Cathedral, the Royal Albert Hall, Chartres Cathedral, St Gile's Cathedral in Edinburgh and York Minster. Mark
began to learn the organ at the age of thirteen with the late Geoffrey Tristram at Christchurch Priory. He
went on to study with John Belcher at St Peter's, Bournemouth and Martin Neary at Winchester Cathedral. While
at Cambridge he continued his organ studies with the late David Sanger and in 1984 obtained his Fellowship of the
Royal College of Organists. He also holds a Licenciate Piano Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music and
is much in demand as a piano accompanist. Mark has a keen interest in computing and is an avid follower of
Southampton Football Club.
Richard Hammond (Trumpet) was born in Hampshire in 1969. He read music at City University, London, receiving
lessons at the Guildhall School of Music. He graduated in 1990, winning the Mercer Prize for Outstanding
Performance in his final year. In July 1990, Richard represented the United Kingdom in the European Music for
Youth prize held at the South Bank, London. In September of the same year he won a year's scholarship to
study at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the David Mason prize for Orchestral Trumpet
Playing. Since leaving college Richard has led a full and varied freelance career. Orchestral appearances include
the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Festival Orchestra, English National
Ballet, London City Ballet and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (conducted by Claudio Abbado). Richard regularly played
for the New Shakespeare Company at the Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park and was a co-founder of the quintet Mardi Brass
who have appeared on BBC TV and Radio. Perhaps his most unusual appearance was as a trumpet playing monk
on ITV's "The Ruth Rendell Mystery". Richard has now changed careers and can be found driving trains in the west country.
As a trumpet and organ duo, Mark and Richard performed at many venues around the country, including recitals at
Christchurch Priory, Southwark Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, and as well as a wedding in the Houses
of Parliament!
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SICILIENNE Paradis INTRO & ALLEGRO M Hammond "WEST SIDE STORY" MEDLEY Bernstein, arr M & R Hammond |
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