Recent Bath Abbey performances of Messiah and Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil have earned comments such as ‘Words fail us both…. The Choir was magnificent, the music was mystical and mesmeric and absolutely Divine. ‘I felt I had died and gone to Heaven…. And I don’t think I was alone’.  

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The Abbey musical life includes an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and regular concerts with orchestra including recently Messe de minuit (Charpentier), Gloria (Vivaldi), The Coronation Anthems (Handel) and The Coronation Mass Mozart). The Abbey choirs have performed alongside King’s College Choir, London, Merton College, Oxford, Jesus College, Cambridge and the choirs of Wells, Southwell, Bradford and Norwich Cathedrals, St Mary’s Redcliffe and the Gesualdo Six. 

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Recent projects include a recording called ‘Caritas’ – Music of love, hope charity and consolation in loving memory of those who we have lost during the pandemic which will be released in October 2022. During the pandemic the Abbey choirs reached audiences throughout the world with their regular broadcasts of choral music. Huw was also commissioned to write a new anthem, ‘Lord, you have been my dwelling place’ included on Caritas and first sung in March 2021. Future projects at Bath include ‘A Royal Jubilee’ featuring Handel’s Coronation Anthems and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. On July 9th there will be a festival concert celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Abbey Girls Choir with the music entirely by women composers and a stunning new commission by critically acclaimed composer, Roxanna Panufnik. 

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A conductor and award-winning organist of international standing, Huw served until recently as Director of Music at Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St James’ Palace, where his predecessors included Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Henry Purcell. Whilst at the Chapel Royal he conducted the music for Prince George’s Christening, the Queen’s Christmas message in 2015, the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph, and numerous other events in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family. 

 

He was principal organist at St Paul’s Cathedral for ten years, where he played for numerous high-profile and state occasions including The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. During his time at St Paul’s he was awarded the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and made two solo organ recordings, one of which, “Organ Spectacular” received the Gramophone Editor’s Choice award. A former Assistant Organist at Hereford Cathedral, graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Organ Scholar of Christ’s College, Cambridge, his musical achievements led to him being awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He is Music Director of Cantemus Chamber Choir, widely regarded as one of Wales’ finest choirs.  

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Choirs under his direction have toured extensively and appeared regularly on television and radio including a performance of Tallis’s Spem in Alium on BBC One’s prime-time The One Show. He has directed three acclaimed CD recordings of Christmas music; “Nativity” with Cantemus, “Adeste Fideles” with the Choir of the Chapel Royal and in 2020 ‘’Gaudete’’ with the Choirs of Bath Abbey. He has worked extensively in over 12 countries and is in demand as a director, teacher and organist. Recent highlights include a visit to Richmond, Virginia and a return to the Netherlands for the fourth year as musical director of the Willis Chorale in Leiden. He is an editor of the Revised English Hymnal, to be published later this year.  

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Alongside his conducting work, Huw enjoys an international career as an organ recitalist and accompanist. Recent performances include recitals at Trinity College, Cambridge, Merton College, Oxford and concerts at Bristol and Wells Cathedrals. His annual performance of Messiaen’s overwhelming La Nativité at Bath Abbey draws visitors from near and far. He was invited to give the opening concert on the new Mander Organ presented to The Queen by the City of London, and played the first concert on the restored Henry Willis organ at the Hooglandsekerk in Leiden.  

 

A fluent Welsh speaker, Huw was also the subject of a documentary on S4C, and many of his compositions have been performed at St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Bath Abbey and further afield. Two of his Christmas arrangements are featured on recent discs ‘Gaudete’ and ‘Nativity’. Huw has made over 20 recordings as accompanist with The Sixteen and with St Paul’s and Hereford Cathedral Choirs.