DARREN HOGG,GBSM ABSM

DARREN HOGG was born and educated in Birmingham. He trained at Birmingham Conservatoire from 1989 to 1993 studying organ, harpsichord and piano accompaniment with David Ponsford and David Saint. During his time at the Conservatoire, he won the Birmingham and Midland Institute (B.M.I.) Organ Performance Prize and the Gordon Clinton English Song Competition Piano Accompanist Prize. He was also awarded the Leonard Gibbons Memorial Prize for Young Organists from the Birmingham Organist’s Association.

Darren is currently organist of the Birmingham Oratory, He regularly plays for services at Birmingham Cathedral, Lichfield Cathedral, the Blue Coat School, St. Alphege, Solihull and St. Mary’s Warwick. He has performed as organist with many choirs for Cathedral services throughout the country. These include York Minster, Winchester, Salisbury, Ripon, Gloucester, Hereford, Worcester, Southwell, Brecon, Birmingham, Coventry and Lichfield. He is Accompanist / Assistant Director of Music for Birmingham Choral Union and the Quinborne Choir, and sometimes works with the City of Birmingham Choir, The CBSO chorus, Birmingham Festival Choral Society, the Armonico Consort and Notorius Choir. He was Accompanist / Assistant Director of Music for the Midland Music Makers Grand Opera Society (now Midland Opera) from 1992-2002. He has performed with many other societies in the Midlands, including the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Canoldir Male Voice Choir and the Heart of England Singers. He has featured as Organist on BBC One Songs of Praise, Radio Two Sunday Half Hour, and Radio Four Daily Service.

Darren regularly gives recitals. Past venues have included, Lichfield Cathedral, Birmingham Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, Leominster Priory, St. Martin’s in the Bullring (Birmingham Parish Church), St. Alphege Solihull (Solihull Parish Church), St. Alban’s Church Conybere Street, St. Augustine’s Church Edgbaston, Halesowen Parish Church and Bournville Friends Meeting House.

Darren is a tutor of Organ at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School and is Organist / tutor of Organ and Piano at King Edward’s School, Birmingham. He was a member of the Birmingham Organists’ Association and has also served on the Association council.

Darren is a full member of the Musician’s Union (M.U.) and resides in Birmingham with his wife Barbara, daughter Abigail and cat Charley. Barbara and Abigail are also musicians and Charley can just about meow in tune!