Duncan Courts
Email me at duncan..at..duncancourts.co.uk
I'm thirty years old in live in Bournemouth. I'm married to Caren and we are expecting our first child in September 2011.
I have three main areas of interest and work:
Church Music
I sing with the Christchurch Priory Choir as a baritone/bass.
I direct the Fountain Singers, who sing in British cathedrals and greater churches several times each year.
I also direct the Priory Singers and Chamber Choir at Christchurch.
I write about church music at English Church Music.
Organ Playing
I play from time to time at Christchurch (1999 Nicholson IV/61) when the opportunity arises.
I accompany for the Cittie Scholars, directed by Richard Cressall, and a number of other groups from time to time.
I continue organ studies with Margaret Phillips, working towards a better technique and qualifications in due course.
I use Hauptwerk and a 3-manual Hoffrichter console for home practice.
I have a particular interest in the organ works of J.S. Bach and Charles Tournemire, and in liturgical improvisation.
Air Traffic Control
I'm an air traffic controller at Bournemouth Airport (this pays most of the bills!).
Arising from my work as an ATCO I have a developing interest in process design, incident investigation and instruction.
I'm a director of Codex ATC Systems, for which I develop ATC information display software.
Music highlights of 2011
19th-20th February - Directing the Fountain Singers at Tewkesbury Abbey
27th February - Directing the Priory Singers at Christchurch Priory
2nd April - Accompanying the Christchurch Priory boys at Sherborne Abbey
Music highlights of 2010
2nd-3rd January 2010 - Accompanying the Cittie Scholars at Tewkesbury Abbey
31st January, 7th and 21st February - Accompanying the choirs of Christchurch Priory
13th-14th February - Directing the Fountain Singers at Worcester Cathedral
2nd May - Directing Evensong at Christchurch Priory
15th-16th May - Directing the Fountain Singers at St. Michael's Tenbury
29th-30th May - Accompanying the Cittie Scholars at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral
6th June - Directing the Priory Singers at Christchurch Priory
15th August - Directing the Priory Singers at Christchurch Priory
22nd August - Playing at Christchurch Priory
16th-17th October - Directing the Fountain Singers at Salisbury Cathedral
Music highlights of 2009
14th February - Gregorian chant workshop with John Rowlands-Pritchard of Opus Anglicanum
21st-22nd February - Directing the Fountain Singers at Coventry Cathedral
16th-17th May - Directing the Fountain Singers at St. Michael's Tenbury
25th May - Accompanying Cantores Literati at Wells Cathedral
26th July - Accompanying the Priory Singers at Christchurch Priory
29th August - Accompanying Cantores Literati at Truro Cathedral
13th September - Accompanying the choir of Christchurch Priory
21st-22nd November - Directing the Fountain Singers at St. Alban the Martyr, Birmingham
29th November - Singing for Advent Procession at Christchurch Priory
19th December - Singing for Nine Lessons and Carols at Christchurch Priory
24th December - Playing for Midnight Mass at St. Mary the Virgin, Bickleigh