Music in the Cathedral
Regular Events
The Cathedral is recognised as a centre of excellence in music, hosting concerts at 12 noon every Saturday throughout the year, alongside excellent choral worship twice each Sunday.
Director of Music
Colin Stuart was born and educated in Aberdeen. He was Organist at St Mary’s, King Street from the age of 14 and had organ lessons here at St Andrew’s Cathedral. After reading music at Aberdeen University, he completed his studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where his tutors were John Bishop, organ and Philip Martin, piano. He won the BMI Organ Recital prize in 1984. His concert career has included solo performances with Bristol Chamber Orchestra (Rheinberger Organ Concerto No 1), Brent Symphony Orchestra (Handel Organ Concerto No.4 and Poulenc Organ Concerto) and recently a performance of Saint Saens Organ Symphony in St John’s Smith Square, London. He has played for many live and recorded broadcasts for the BBC including several with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Colin was Organist at St. John’s Wood Church, London for 34 years and during that time worked with many Performance groups including English Chamber Choir and Royal Ballet. Colin returned to live in the North-East last summer and has, since November, been playing regularly for services at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Emeritus Director of Music
Andrew Morrisson was educated at Brentwood School in Essex, where he studied organ with Dr Edgar Brice from the Royal Academy of Music, and at Imperial College London, where he studied chemistry. Following a move to Aberdeen to study for a PhD at the Macaulay Institute, he was appointed Assistant Organist at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen and then Organist and Master of the Choristers in 1983, succeeding Geoffrey Pearce.
For over 35 years he combined an academic career in chemistry with directing the Cathedral Choir in up to four choral services a week. Professor Morrisson has conducted the St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir in numerous radio and television broadcasts and has made a number of recordings, including a solo organ CD to mark 21 years tenure at the Cathedral. He has conducted the Cathedral Choir in over 30 of the major churches in the United Kingdom, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and York Minster as well as tours to the United States and Europe.
In 2019, he was awarded the Associateship of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM) in recognition of his 35 years’ service as Director of Music at St Andrew’s Cathedral and his wider contribution to church music in Scotland. This was followed by the award of an honorary DMus from the University of Aberdeen. In April 2023, he was presented with the Royal Maundy in York Minster by King Charles III and in 2024, was made a Member of the Order of St John at Dunfermline Abbey. He is now retired and is living back in Essex but still travels to Aberdeen a number of times a year to support the music at the Cathedral where he is Emeritus Director of Music.
Cathedral Choir
St Andrew’s Cathedral, King Street, Aberdeen has been a centre of excellence in the city for choral music for many decades. A significant number of those who have been involved in music-making at the Cathedral have gone on to high-profile careers as conductors, singers and organists.
The building was closed for the first 18 months of the pandemic and is currently undergoing an extended period of restoration. The current Director of Music is Colin Stuart, who is supported by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. There are opportunities for singers in all parts to be involved in singing choral evensong or other services on Sunday evenings, approximately once a fortnight. A wide repertoire of cathedral music is used, ranging in style from Tudor to contemporary. The evensong choir currently comprises university students and other adults. A preparatory rehearsal immediately before each service provides an opportunity to develop sight-reading and performance skills.
It is hoped to re-introduce choral and organ scholarships once building renovations are complete.
The Organ
The organ at St Andrew’s Cathedral has a rich and storied history stretching back over two centuries. The original organ was built by Samuel Green in 1795 for the Longacre Chapel, serving there until 1816 when it was installed in the West Gallery of the new cathedral building. Tragically, this instrument perished in a fire on Christmas Day 1817.
In 1818, a replacement organ was built, featuring two manuals and pedals. This instrument underwent significant development over the following decades: in 1871 it was rebuilt and enlarged to three manuals by the firm of Bryceson of London, with further work undertaken in 1917 by Hill, Norman & Beard of London, and again in 1970 by Rushworth.
When the new chancel was completed in 1880, the organ was relocated to a purpose-built chamber on the north side of the choir, where it remains today. For many years, this instrument was considered one of the oldest organs in regular use for Sunday worship in Scotland.
The organ continues to play a vital role in the Cathedral’s rich tradition of sacred music.
“I’ve just left the stage of the opera house having had one of the most fulfilling and rewarding musical experiences of my life, and I can honestly say I would not be here were it not for the amazing opportunity I was given when I was younger to sing in St Andrews Cathedral choir”
Iain Milne, Zürich Opera