FULL BIOGRAPHY

Church and concert organist, pianist, and musicologist, Dr GILLIAN WARD RUSSELL, has always lived in Essex and worked as a church organist in the Dioceses of Chelmsford and London, although her recital work takes her as far afield as the USA and Europe, besides playing all over the UK.

On the organ she has gained a reputation for showing the instrument’s versatility--in particular its ability to create moods and convey emotions and to entertain. Gillian believes in the power of music to communicate directly with her audience and she uses this to great effect in all her concerts, often displaying her Christian faith through the music she selects to play. What is it that makes Gillian Ward Russell’s audiences say, “That was the most enjoyable and entertaining organ recital I have ever been to”? Exciting and colourful playing are only part of the picture, for Gillian’s presentations (as she prefers to call them) are far more than the notes of music. It all begins with the programming, which is tailor-made for each audience, and the repertoire can cover music from many centuries. Always Gillian speaks to (and often with) her audience: often organists are remote from the people because the instrument is tucked away, so this is something else which her listeners appreciate.

In her busy schedule Gillian does not neglect the important task of passing on her skills to others, and she teaches music privately; Her lecture-recitals and masterclasses are on a number of topics and are always informative and accessible. She has shared her skills and knowledge in many different ways: she has been Organs Adviser for the Diocese of Chelmsford and Chair of the Suffolk Centre of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. At the present time Gillian continues as Musical Director of Maldon Choral Society and conducts them in four concerts per year. For 24 years she has been President of the lively Chelmsford & District Organists’ Association, which this year celebrates its Diamond Jubilee; Gillian heads an active committee which has organised a programme of events throughout the year to mark this important anniversary, and one of these events is a recital given by her at Chelmsford Cathedral. The Association has grown significantly under Gillian’s leadership and in 2008 it absorbed the former Southend & District Organists’ Association; in view of the membership covering the whole of Essex the CDOA has been renamed the Essex Organists’ Association.