FULL BIOGRAPHY

Gillian Ward Russell's audiences always say that her concerts are superbly enjoyable and entertaining, often "the best ever". The reason for this is that Gillian's concert presentations (as she prefers to call them) go beyond the expected norms of exciting and colourful playing to generate a rapport with the audience. It all begins with the programme, which is specially devised for each occasion and can cover music of various styles from many centuries. Gillian always speaks to her listeners, often encouraging a dialogue. Even when the console is hidden from view she makes a point of appearing before her audience in person, even if a video link is provided.

Many of Gillian's programmes have themes. Recent ones have included:

• Come Dancing an exploration of the many dance idioms which have influenced musicians and composers through past generations until the present.
• Hide & Seek and Pictures in Music involving the audience in discussing well-known tunes that are hidden or disguised in the music as well as the themes and stories that the music describes.
• Remembering Heroes which was specially devised for a recital at the Alexandra Palace to honour the late Yehudi Menuhin.
• The Life and Music of PDQ Bach A special production for All Fool's Day which had the audience laughing from start to finish.
• Light and Dark was inspired by reading the first Harry Potter book.
• Variety is the Spice of Life a programme of variations.

Whether she has played in cathedrals, concert halls or churches, large or small, whether in the UK, America or Europe, or on radio or television, Gillian's listeners will have felt the power of her communication through her music and above all will have been entertained, and often educated too.

Gillian does not neglect the important task of passing on her skills to pupils of all ages. She teaches organ, piano, music theory and aural skills on a one-to-one basis at her home in Maldon, Essex, where she has both a two-manual-and-pedal pipe organ and a grand piano. Besides the teaching she also gives her pupils opportunities to perform in both formal and informal situations, even going as far as joint teacher/pupil performances. Many of her past students have achieved high academic awards and now hold responsible positions as organists in churches.

Gillian's communication skills as well as her distinguished musical accomplishments have led to her appointment to serve the wider community as:

• President of the Chelmsford and District Organists' Association since 1986.
• Chairman of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (Suffolk Centre) 1998-2004.
• Organ Adviser to the Diocese of Chelmsford 1999-2007.

In all these appointments Gillian has taken every opportunity to encourage amateur and professional musicians alike.

An ancestor, the early 19th century composer William Russell, has always interested Gillian. The study of his life and works earned her a Doctorate from Leicester University. She has produced a facsimile edition of his complete organ works and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 a lecture recital about his music. She has also written a three-movement 'Voluntary in E minor and major' as a tribute to William Russell.
Gillian was a church musician for many years, serving at a number of churches in the Dioceses of London and Chelmsford. She now plays freelance as engagements allow. Her Christian faith motivated her to record (in Brentwood Cathedral) a CD of music especially chosen to mark the Decade of Evangelism.

Major recitals in 2008 took Gillian to Germany, where she appeared for the first time in Backnang, performing on the new organ in the cathedral, and in many of last year's recitals she marked the anniversaries of Vaughan Williams and Messiaen, while her esteemed knowledge of early nineteenth-century English music was shared in a presentation in Norwich. Among recent additions to her repertoire have been 'Maldon Suite', composed specially for her by Ronald Watson, and the Concerto for Organ and Piano by Flor Peeters.