Music at All Saints - Jack Pickford

Jack Pickford, Director of Music at Glossop Parish Church, read Music at York University and subsequently studied Education at the University of Manchester. An Associate of the Royal College of Organists since 1977, Jack was Organist and Choirmaster of Oldham Parish Church for six years from 1982, and in 1983 founded The Pennine Singers.

He has a keen interest in music in the liturgy, and for several years was Education and Training Officer for the Manchester Area of the Royal School of Church Music. He has accompanied many choral groups in the Manchester Area and directed several amateur stage society productions, particularly in Glossop. As accompanist, singer or conductor he has taken part in numerous live and recorded broadcasts on national radio and television.

Since 1990 Jack has been Director of Music at Crompton House Church of England High School in Shaw, where he oversees a wealth of music- making on a broad canvas and is privileged to work with gifted colleagues and with the superb instrumental staff of the Oldham Metropolitan Music Service. The strength of the Departmental team was recognised in June 2001 at the North West Regional Teaching Awards, at which Jack received the Award for Leadership in a Secondary School.

Besides teaching to Advanced Level, his duties involve much accompanying, rehearsing and directing, arranging and, when time allows, a little composing.

In July last year the School Orchestra and Brass Band performed in the Royal Festival Hall as part of the National Festival of Music for Youth; in the same week the School Senior Choir visited York Minster to sing Choral Evensong. They have also sung in both Liverpool and Manchester Cathedrals and, most recently, in St Paul's Cathedral in London.

In 2004 and 2005 Jack was also involved in Eucharist and Evensong services at Lichfield Cathedral with his chamber choir, The Pennine Singers, who have previously sung in the Cathedrals of Sheffield, Blackburn and Birmingham. This year, in July, they will be at Chester Cathedral.