Joseph Nolan (organist)

Joseph Nolan
English-Australian organist and conductor Joseph Nolan
Background information
Born 3 May 1974
Origin Hull, England
Occupation(s) Organist and conductor
Instruments Organ
Labels Signum Records

Joseph Nolan (born 3 May 1974) is an English-born Australian organist and conductor.

Education

Nolan received a scholarship for the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied organ with Professor Richard Popplewell. During his time at the Royal College, he was awarded the Canon Bark Prize for most promising organ student. After receiving First Class Honours for his BMus final recital at the Temple Church in London, he continued his postgraduate studies for two years with Marie-Claire Alain in Paris. While in Paris, he was supported by scholarships he obtained from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust[1] and the Hattori Foundation.[2] In London, he completed his studies with Dame Gillian Weir while being supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society.[3]

Career

In 2004, Nolan was appointed organist to the Chapel Royal St. James's Palace.[4] This allowed him to perform on numerous occasions at Buckingham Palace. It was here that he gave the opening concert on the refurbished organ in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom. He was also the first organist to make a commercial recording with this organ on the UK recording label Signum Records.[5] In 2008, Nolan was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers of St George's Cathedral, Perth in Western Australia.[6]. The Cathedral's consort is now described as "One of Australia's Best".[7] In November 2013 and at the request of Artistic Director Joseph Colaneri, Nolan assumed the role of Associate Conductor and Head of Chorus at West Australian Opera. In July 2014 he gave notice to the opera company that he would not be continuing with his role, but fulfilled his year-long contract through to November 2014 for the performances of Verdi's Il trovatore.

In addition to his cathedral and opera duties, Nolan is a recording artist. He has recorded Poulenc's Organ Concerto with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.[8] He has performed with several groups, including the King's Singers at the Bad Homberg International Festival,[9] and with trumpeters Alison Balsom, Crispian Steele-Perkins and David Elton.[10] He travels internationally for recitals and concerts.

Nolan is particularly known for his recordings of the complete organ works of Charles-Marie Widor for Signum Records. These pieces were recorded at the French churches of La Madeleine, Paris; St. Francois De Sales, Lyon; and St. Sernin Toulouse and received an Editor's Choice award in ABC Limelight Magazine, Australia.[11]. In June 2017, he embarked on a cycle of complete performances of the Widor Symphonies - 10 symphonies in 7 days - in Melbourne.[12]

In April 2016, Nolan was made a Chevalier (Knight) in the Order of French Arts and Letters for his services to French Music.[13] He was also appointed (in 2013) as an Honorary Research Fellow of the University of Western Australia[14] School of Music in recognition for his musical accomplishments in Perth, Australia and abroad.

He became an Australian citizen in 2012.[15]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ The Countess of Munster Musical Trust website (PDF), retrieved 29 March 2014
  2. ↑ Hattori Foundation website, retrieved 29 March 2014
  3. ↑ Royal Philharmonic Society Past Recipients website, retrieved 29 March 2014
  4. ↑ Strahle, Graham (20 July 2013). "Review: Charles-Marie Widor: The Organ Symphonies Vol 1 (Joseph Nolan)". The Australian
  5. ↑ Catalogue, Signum Records website, retrieved 29 March 2014
  6. ↑ Organists, St George's Cathedral website, retrieved 29 March 2014
  7. ↑ http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-06/world-renowned-organise-joseph-nolan-builds-on-perth-choir/8503480
  8. ↑ 'Organ Spectacular' program, West Australia Symphony Orchestra. (PDF), retrieved 29 March 2014
  9. ↑ Cathedral of Limburg website, retrieved 30 March 2014
  10. ↑ The West Australian website, retrieved 30 March 2014
  11. ↑ Sove, Robert (September 2013). "Review: Widor: Organ Symphony No 1, Organ Symphony No 2". Limelight Magazine
  12. ↑ http://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/features/joseph-nolans-widor-marathon-jogs-melbourne
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ University of Western Australia School of Music website, retrieved 30 March 2014
  15. ↑ "Nolan Honoured by French Government", Limelight, June 2016, p. 13
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