KEITH ORRELL
BIOGRAPHY
Keith is a versatile and vibrant choral and orchestral conductor, music leader, pianist and organist, composer and arranger, based in the north-west of England.
Since 2004 to date, he is the Musical Director of the Liverpool Welsh Choral, formerly the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union and, since 2009, the William Byrd Singers of Manchester. In 2011 he took up the choral directorship of the Pennine Spring Music Festival.
Keith retired a few years ago after thirteen years as Vocal Projects Leader for Wigan Music Service. His seventy-six ‘Let’s Sing!’ projects and concerts left a significant legacy which has impacted on the singing experiences of over fifty thousand primary and secondary school children in the area.
He is also a dedicated choral musician, pianist and organist, and is currently the long-standing Organist and Choirmaster at the church of St Agnes & St Pancras, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Previous organist posts include Shrewsbury Abbey and Shrewsbury Cathedral.
In the past, he was Chorus Master of the Hallé Choir in Manchester for seven years, working with leading international conductors such as Kent Nagano and Mark Elder. He has acted as a guest Chorus Master for other symphony orchestras in the UK, including the BBC Symphony Chorus. While residing previously in the Midlands, he formed the Shropshire-based chamber choir, the Beaumaris Singers, in the 1980s, and directed them until 2004. More recently, he worked briefly as Director of Music of Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral. In addition, he has led many children’s choir, youth choirs and larger mixed adult choirs which include the Birmingham Singers, Stone Choral Society, Staffordshire Youth Choir and Wigan Youth Choir, and has directed youth instrumental ensembles, including Wigan Youth Orchestra.
He continues to lead popular choral workshops and courses and is a member of ABCD (the Association of British Choral Directors), the ISM (Independent Society of Musicians) and the RCO (Royal College of Organists). His qualifications include a BA (Hons) in music from Liverpool University, a PGCE (with distinction) in music teaching, ARCM (piano) and ARCO (organ).