RICHARD Quarmby will spend this weekend in Leeds celebrating the music of the Big Bands and indulging his passion for all things musical.
As a musical director, vocal coach, arranger, orchestrator, accompanist and organist there is no musical task which Richard has not undertaken.
But the highlight of a busy year for Richard, who lives in Almondbury, has to be getting the chance to play the organ in the Vatican.
In April Richard flew to Rome and six hours later found himself sitting at the organ in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City playing for the Mass and accompanying 320 singers from Sing Live UK who had flown to Rome to take part in the service.
Richard already has a degree in music from the University of Huddersfield and is now studying for his Doctorate. He has chosen as his subject ‘the organs of Town Halls in Northern England’
His musical talent has enabled him to perform in venues the length and breadth of the country from Belfast Cathedral right through to Lightcliffe Parish Church where he plays the organ every Sunday!
But it is not just organ music that interests Richard. He has a passion for Big Band and is looking forward to the concert at Leeds Town Hall with Sing Live this weekend.
“Music from this era was constantly played at home when I was growing up,” said Richard.
“My parents are huge Frank Sinatra fans, so having 200 singers on stage singing such well known songs as Mack the Knife, It Had to be You, That’s Life and I Left My Heart in San Francisco is a real treat. It’s a vibrant and lively delight in store!”
But Sunday’s big concert in Leeds is not the only major date in Richard’s calendar this year.
He has an even bigger engagement in his personal diary later this summer. He gets married in August at a service at Huddersfield Parish Church!
Sing The Music of the Big Bands is at Leeds Town Hall this coming Sunday, June 21, at 7.20pm. Tickets are available from the Town Hall Box Office on 0113 224 3801.
