Andrew Wright

Born in 1955, Andrew Wright developed an early interest in music and won a music scholarship to Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire. He gained an instrumental scholarship for piano and violin at Worcester College, Oxford and while at University was a member of The Tallis Scholars and the Oxford University Chamber Orchestra. He continued with advanced piano studies at the Royal College of Music under John Barstow. In 1979 he was appointed Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral and three years later became Master of Music at Brentwood Cathedral in Essex where he remains today. He is also Director of Diocesan Music, which covers the County of Essex and several London boroughs.

Andrew Wright's musical work goes well beyond his role as Master of Music at the Cathedral - as a teacher, organist, adjudicator at music festivals, and a composer. He works with parishes and schools, organists and instrumentalists in the Brentwood area and beyond. He has written much music for the liturgy, for choirs, singers and organ and his works have been published in both in the UK and the USA. He has a particular interest in working with youth and he advises schools on musical matters and makes school visits. (Not to mention the 200 or so choristers estimated to have been trained by him during his time at Brentwood Cathedral!)

Andrew received a Civic Award from Brentwood Borough Council in 1995 for his work in the locality, and more recently he was awarded a Papal knighthood for services to Church Music in the Diocese of Brentwood.