MACON, Ga. — Townsend School of Music will host world-renowned British conductor and music scholar Dr. Stephen Darlington for a weeklong residency, Oct. 13-17, featuring public performances, lectures and class appearances with Mercer University students.
Recognized as one of the United Kingdom’s leading choral conductors, Dr. Darlington served as director of music and tutor in music at Christ Church, Oxford, from 1985 to 2018, where he led the Christ Church Cathedral Choir to international acclaim. Under his direction, the ensemble has toured across the world and earned many honors, including a GRAMMY® nomination for An Oxford Elegy by Vaughan Williams.
As part of the residency, Dr. Darlington will lead a public lecture for the Townsend Symposia on Music, Philosophy and the Arts at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 16 and conduct the Mercer Singers in a concert of Cathedral Choral Classics at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Both events will be free and open to the public at Fickling Hall in McCorkle Music Building.
Dr. Darlington will trace his extraordinary work editing, publishing and recording the critical edition of Francesco Durante’s Requiem, written in the 18th century but never published. The formidable editing process began with the discovery of the manuscript and led to locating and researching available manuscripts in many different European libraries. After constant decision-making and careful consideration of performance practice issues, the project ultimately revealed the importance of and reliance on authoritative scores and the editors responsible for them.
In addition to these public events, Dr. Darlington will visit music classes and workshops throughout the week, sharing his expertise with Mercer students in conducting, performance and sacred repertoire.
“I have known about Mercer University’s excellent reputation for music for many years, and I am thrilled to be visiting and engaging with the outstanding students there,” Dr. Darlington said. “A lifetime of working in the fields of sacred and academic music has always been shaped by the excitement of working with young people and communicating my love of music to them.”
Dr. Gary G. Gerber, dean of Townsend School of Music, said the residency offers Mercer students a rare opportunity to learn from a multifaceted musician.
“Dr. Darlington is not only a renowned conductor but also a gifted organist, composer and educator,” Dr. Gerber said. “Our students will get to experience all of those facets. He’ll be conducting the Mercer Singers, giving lectures in classes, performing a mini-concert on the organ down at St. Joseph (Catholic Church), and leading master classes. It’s a true residency that brings every part of his expertise to our campus.”
Dr. Gerber added that the experience will leave a lasting impression on Mercer’s music community.
“It’s not a single concert or lecture,” he said. “His vast background in English music will be encouraging our students to be better both academically and as performers throughout the week. They will see firsthand how a lifelong artist and scholar continues to teach, perform,and share his passion for music.”
About Dr. Stephen Darlington
Dr. Stephen Darlington is one of Britain’s leading choral conductors. He was director of music and tutor in music at Christ Church from 1985 to 2018. Previously, he was master of the music at St. Alban’s Abbey and artistic director of the world-famous International Organ Festival. At Christ Church he maintained the highest traditions of the Church of England in the Cathedral while also developing the college as a center of academic musical excellence. He is the holder of a Lambeth Doctorate in Music and is the chair of the Ouseley Trust. He is also an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music, fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Under his direction, Christ Church Cathedral Choir’s tonal quality has been praised and admired throughout the world from Sydney to Rio de Janeiro, from Tokyo to New York, from Helsinki to Paris, from Beijing to Toronto. During Dr. Darlington’s tenure, Christ Church Cathedral Choir has built a legacy of groundbreaking recordings. There have been many awards, including a GRAMMY® nomination for An Oxford Elegy by Vaughan Williams. Dr. Darlington has also developed a strong media profile on television, featuring as conductor in more than 16 documentaries in the last 15 years.
