Our 2021 monthly Organ Recital series continues with a VIRTUAL recital given by Mark Dancer FRCO.

Mark is Director of Music and Organist of St Peter's Church, Petersfield, Conductor of the Petersfield Choral Society and Assistant Director and accompanist of the Portsmouth Festival Choir.

Mark began his organ studies at the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace with Michael Fleming. Whilst reading music at Durham University, Mark Dancer was Organ Scholar of the College of St Hild and St Bede, continuing his organ studies with Alan Thurlow and David Hill. He has been awarded many prizes in organ performance including the Associate and Fellowship Diplomas of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO, FRCO) and the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM). An accomplished singer, Mark was a chorister at Ewell Parish Church (Surrey) and later a lay-clerk at Birmingham Cathedral. He studied singing with renowned operatic bass Hervey Alan.

He has performed in St Paul's Cathedral, Birmingham Cathedral and Town Hall, Portsmouth Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral, All Saints, Ryde, St Marys Buriton, Botley Parish Church, etc. as well as for the Petersfield Musical Festival and Portsmouth Festivities. His popular summer series of organ recitals in Petersfield has its 17th season in 2016 and offers an entertaining and varied programme of organ music. Mark was for some time Director of the Free Church Choir Union National Festival and President of the City of Portsmouth & District Organists Association.

Playing with sparkle, imagination and a wide dynamic palette, Mark Dancer is described as a fine musician and sensitive accompanist by Ann Pinhey in the Petersfield Post. He is very much in demand as choral accompanist and repetiteur. He has recently performed Schubert, Piazzolla and Rachmaninov at the the Royal Naval Club & Royal Albert Yacht Club Gala Concert in Portsmouth, Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben with mezzo-soprano Lucy Humphris, Viernes Messe Solennelle with the Botley Choral Society, Gustav Holst and Malcolm Arnold with the Gemini Consort.

In addition to his private teaching practice, Mark is a visiting tutor in piano at Bedales Preparatory School, Dunhurst (Hampshire), and is an examiner for the Royal School of Church Music.

Our J.W. Walker & Sons pipe organ is currently being restored by Nicholson & Co. Ltd, we hope to celebrate its re-dedication in late 2021. We still have some way to go on our fundraising, please consider donating to The Organ Project.