The Bach Choir's Director Of Music David Hill Honoured With Royal College Of Organists Medal

David Hill, who celebrates 20 years as Musical Director of The Bach Choir this year, has been honoured with the prestigious RCO medal alongside three other musicians who have made major contributions to the world of music.

The Royal College of Organists is to recognise the achievements of four distinguished musicians by awarding them its highest honour, the RCO Medal. The recipients of the RCO Medal in 2018 are:

Dr David Hill, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral conducting and organ playing.

Ms Catherine Ennis, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ playing and in recognition of distinguished service to the College.

Mr Jean Guillou, in recognition of distinguished achievement in organ playing and composition.

Mr Andrew Parrott, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral conducting and scholarship (presentation deferred from March 2017)

The honorands received the RCO Medal at the College's Conferment of Diplomas at Southwark Cathedral on Saturday 10th March 2018.

The Bach Choir, one of the world's leading choruses, has sung in prestigious venues around the UK, collaborated with the Rolling Stones, and worked on blockbuster films including Ridley Scott's Prometheus. The Choir's next concert takes place on Sunday 18th March (Bach's St Matthew Passion) at the Royal Festival Hall.

Founded in 1876 The Bach Choir regularly performs classical repertoire in major London and international venues and has recorded widely, from a series of English music discs for Naxos to a range of music for film scores including: The Martian, Kingdom of Heaven, Prometheus, Robin Hood, The Chronicles of Narnia, Shrek the Third, and Jack the Giant Slayer. In 2011, The Bach Choir collaborated with John Rutter and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on The Colours of Christmas, which reached No 3 in the Official Classical Charts.

RCO President Martin Baker said: "This year's honorands have enjoyed international acclaim in their respective fields for many years and it is an honour for the College to acknowledge their many achievements by awarding them The RCO Medal. "Both organ performance and choral conducting, areas with which the College is inextricably linked, are represented in equal measure in this round of awards. I am delighted too that we can acknowledge the vast interdisciplinary endeavour that is music, by reflecting on the range of distinguished achievements for which our honorands are known. For instance, playing is allied to composition, playing and directing with the nurturing of young players and conductors, and performance with ground-breaking research. The Conferment Ceremony offered a wonderful opportunity to celebrate such endeavours alongside the achievements of the College's members who have been successful in recent diploma and certificate examinations."

Awarded for the first time in 2012, The Medal of the Royal College of Organists ('The RCO Medal') recognises distinguished achievement in one or more of the following areas relating to organ and choral music: performance, teaching, scholarship, composition, organ-building, conducting, administration, and philanthropy; it is also available to recognise specific service to the College.

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