Biography

After graduating from the University of Hull in July 2005, Richard McVeigh (BMus) spent a year as Organ Scholar at Chester Cathedral, before moving to York Minster as Organ Scholar. Graduating with a Bachelor of Music (hons) degree in July 2005, Richard achieved firsts in his Performance and Advanced Editing Techniques modules.

In 2002, Richard became the Junior Organ Scholar of the high-profile Edward Boyle Organ Scholarship at the University of Hull, while Marcus Wibberley (BMus, ARCO, Dip CHD) was the Senior Organ Scholar. In 2003 Richard became the Senior Organ Scholar succeeding Marcus. In conjunction with the Edward Boyle Organ Scholarship is an assistantship at the minster church of Beverley. This saw Richard playing for two Choral Evensongs a week at the Minster under Alan Spedding (the minster Organist and Choirmaster), and taking the boys rehearsals when the organist was away.

During his time as Senior Organ Scholar at Hull, Richard was the director of the university Chapel Choir who rehearsed three times a week and sung fully choral services (including Choral Eucharist, Choral Evensong, Remembrances Services, Concerts and in 2004, a masterclass taken by Ian Currior) around 10 times per semester. During Richard's time at Hull, the Chapel Choir have sang at all the big churches, minsters and cathedrals in and around the area of Yorkshire.

Born in December 1983, he was trained as a chorister at Chesterfield Parish Church (with the famous crooked spire) from the age of nine under the Organist and Master of the Choristers, Michael Baker. During his time with this choir he has taken part in recordings, broadcasts and tours (national and international), singing at places such as the cathedrals of Salisbury, Truro, Worcester, St Paul's (London), Hereford, Bristol, St. George's Chapel Windsor and York Minster. Venues also included places at Venice, Florence and Rome in Italy.

Richard first became interested in church music when he joined the Chesterfield Parish Church Choir; he has been a member of the choir ever since. He studied the piano with Michael Baker and organ with Ian Brackenbury and obtained grade 8 distinction of the Associated Board for both instruments, and is now working towards the ARCO examination. As well as singing for the choir, Richard sometimes accompanies the choir when the assistant is away, which have included playing for a Choral Evensong at Bristol Cathedral and part of a Choral Evensong at Hereford Cathedral.

As well as an accompanist, Richard has performed up and down the country, including venues such as Bristol Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, Beverley Minster, Hull City Hall, Holy Trinity Hull, Lincoln Cathedral, Bath Abbey, Ripon Cathedral, Chesterfield Parish Church, Chester Cathedral and York Minster. He has performed with orchestras and has accompanied different choirs and choral societies. 

Whilst at the University, Richard has taken part in Organ Masterclasses taken by James O’Donnell (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey), James Lancelot (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Durham Cathedral) and Ian Currior (Organist and Director of Music at Chelsea Royal Hospital). While at university, Richard studied organ with John Scott Whiteley of York Minster and Alan Spedding of Beverley Minster.

Richard is very keen on church music, and from having 12 years experience in the field has gained a very wide and varied choral repertoire. Recently he has been composing in his free time, mostly for the choir and his works have been premiered by the University of Hull Chapel Choir. This included most recently his setting of the Preces and Responses which were sang in Beverley Minster on 19th May 2005 to a very well receiving audience.