Bury Parish Church's director of music will draw upon his vast experience to entertain visitors in a lunchtime concert on Friday. 

Organist Marc Murray will perform a range of classic works at the town centre church at 12.30pm.

Buxtehude, Cesar Franck and Edwin Lemare and contemporary pieces by local composers will feature on his playlist.

Marc, who was born and educated in Cape Town, South Africa, moved to the UK in May 2010 to take up the post of director of music at St Botolph’s Church (The Stump) in Boston, Lincolnshire.

He also serviced the same position for Peterborough Opera until June 2015.

Marc is now the director of music and master of the choir school at the parish church, and this summer he becomes conductor of Preston Cecilian Choral Society.

He is conductor of the Rawstorne Singers and Southport Bach Choir too.

And from 2015, he was first accompanist and then conductor of Chester St Cecilia Singers.

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In 2019 Marc completed a further MA in Performance Practice at the University of York, specializing in the performance of early organ and harpsichord repertoire under the supervision of Prof. Peter Seymour and continued his harpsichord studies with Catherine Perrion.

Marc is a doctoral candidate at the University of York, researching the music of Thomas Dupuis within the context of ‘The Land without Music’.

Marc holds teaching and performing qualifications from the University of South Africa; Trinity College of Music, London and the Royal College of Organists, holding both the Fellowship Diploma and Choral Directing Diploma of the College. Marc is an Accredited Teacher with the College.

As an organist, Marc has given recitals and played in concerts throughout South Africa, as well at the U.S.A., Germany, Sweden, and the U.K. including recitals in Westminster Abbey, Southwark, St. Paul’s, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bradford, Blackburn, Chester and Wakefield Cathedrals.

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In South Africa, Marc worked for the National Department of Education (DoE) on a programme, which gave all school learners the opportunity to participate in choral and solo singing. Here, he was also accompanist and vocal coach to the DoE’s South African Youth Choir.

He also worked as ‘Acting’ Chorus Master and then, Assistant Chorus Master for Cape Town Opera. Marc formed a chamber choir, The Magnificats in 2003, and was for twenty years, Organist and Director of Music of St Saviour’s Church, Cape Town.

Marc is a regular continuo player with the University of York’s Baroque Ensemble, Ad Hoc Baroque Ensemble and occasionally with Leeds Baroque.

Tickets cost £5 and can be bought on the door.

For mor information contact https://www.buryparishchurch.com/concerts