RICHARD QUESNEL COMPOSER CONDUCTOR
MUSICAL ACTIVITIES
CHORAL COMPOSITION
As a choral conductor, I have always written for singers - sacred and secular, solo songs and song cycles, motets and anthems, cantatas and oratorios. My pieces are published and available on Spotify. Commissions and performances include Cambridge and Oxford University college chapels, Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris (TV broadcast), Singer-Polignac Foundation - Paris, Festival of Sacred Music - St Malo, Royal Naval Chapel - Greenwich...
FILM COMPOSITION
Recent scores include work for Aurora Media on Amazon Prime (Formula E Ice Drive - choral meets electronic score) and Fugue State Films (American Preacher - small band acoustic score). American Preacher was screened at Dances with Films Festival - Hollywood in 2018.
ARRANGEMENTS AND IMPROVISATION
I’ve worked as an arranger on several albums with traditional musicians for commercially released albums, including Andre Le Meut (string quartet and piano), Nijadell (piano improvisation) and Yann Fanch Kemener (choral arrangements).
I have also always enjoyed arranging traditional Advent and Christmas carols for upper voices and SATB choirs!
MUSIC AND EDUCATION
I have been dedicated to working with young musicians for twenty years and was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture for my services to music, culture and education. My qualifications include the Agregation de Musique and the Diplome d'Etat in Choral Conducting.
Now Director of Music at St George's College Weybridge, I have also worked at the University, Conservatoire and Maitrise de Caen, and was choral director at the Academie de Musique & Arts Sacres in Sainte Anne d'Auray from 2000 to 2017.
CURRENT COMPOSITION PROJECTS:
DragonSong
A five act oratorio to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St George's College, Weybridge. Libretto by Ben Kaye.
This dramatic and entertaining work is scored for two soloists (St George and a young girl called Eve), children's choir, SATB chorus, professional instrumental ensemble and school orchestra players.
First performance: 13/12/19 at St George's College, Weybridge
Then: 26/1/20 at St George's Hanover Square