Richard Pinel is a prize-winning organ performer who now enjoys a varied career as an organ recitalist, choral conductor and teacher
Richard was awarded the organ scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford in 2002. During his time there, the Grammy-nominated college choir undertook several recording projects with Harmonia Mundi, on which Richard’s playing was hailed as ‘a force of nature’. More recently, Richard held a Junior Fellowship in the Organ Department of Royal Birmingham Conservertoire and has enjoyed competition success, winning the First Prize and both special prizes at the Breda International Organ Competition.
Between 2017 and 2021 he was Director of the Edington Festival and until December 2022 he was a Fellow and the Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge. Prior to his position at Jesus College, Richard was Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. He previously held the organ scholarship at St Albans Cathedral.
Richard is in demand as an organ teacher and is a regular tutor on Oundle for Organists courses. His organ CD, L’Orgue Symphonique, has been praised for its ‘electrifying impact’ and ‘truly tremendous verve’ and his latest release (as conductor), the world premiere recording of Grayston Ives’ Requiem with Jesus College Choir and Britten Sinfonia entered the classical charts in the top ten. Recitals have taken him across the UK, notably King’s College, Cambridge and St John’s, Smith Square and further afield to Europe and the USA.