Paul Ayres
Composer / Performer
Paul Ayres was born in Perivale, west London, studied music at Oxford University, and now works freelance as a composer, arranger, choral conductor, musical director, organist, and accompanist. He has received over one hundred commissions, and his works have been awarded composition prizes in Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. Paul particularly enjoys “re-composing” classical works (Purcell, Bach, Handel, Fauré) and “classicizing” pop music (jazz and show tunes, The Beatles, Happy Hardcore). Paul conducts City Chorus and the London College of Music Chorus, accompanies Concordia Voices, and is associate accompanist of Crouch End Festival Chorus. He has led many music education workshops for children, and played piano for improvised comedy shows and musical theatre.
Biographical Details
- Director of The Queldryk Chamber Choir
- Website: https://www.paulayres.co.uk/
- Biography: https://www.paulayres.co.uk/biog/
Works by Paul Ayres
- 4A Wreck
- Easter Anthem
- Exite Fideles
- Fantasia 150
- Messyah
- O be joyful in the Lord
- Prayer of St Richard
- Preces and Responses
- Strengthen for Service
- Te lucis ante terminum
- The Finchley Service
- The Light Walking
- Wedding Anthem
Festival performances of works by Paul Ayres
Festival commissionWorld premiere
LFCCM 2019
- All-Age Eucharist on Sunday 12 May 2019 at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church
LFCCM 2018
- Parish Eucharist on Sunday 20 May 2018 at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church
LFCCM 2017
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 7 May 2017 at St Mary-at-Finchley Parish Church
LFCCM 2015
- Compline on Monday 11 May 2015 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Lunchtime Recital on Friday 15 May 2015 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2014
- Sung Eucharist on Sunday 18 May 2014 at St George’s, Hanover Square
LFCCM 2012
- Compline on Monday 14 May 2012 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 16 May 2012 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2009
- Organ Recital on Sunday 10 May 2009 at Westminster Cathedral
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 10 May 2009 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 13 May 2009 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2007
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 13 May 2007 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2006
- Concert on Sunday 7 May 2006 at St George’s, Hanover Square
- Compline on Monday 8 May 2006 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2005
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 8 May 2005 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Compline on Monday 9 May 2005 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Choral Evensong on Wednesday 11 May 2005 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2004
- Choral Evensong on Sunday 9 May 2004 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2003
- Choral Evensong on Thursday 15 May 2003 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2002
- Choral Eucharist on Sunday 5 May 2002 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Lunchtime Recital on Thursday 9 May 2002 at St Pancras Parish Church
Works performed by Paul Ayres
World premiere
- 4A Wreck Paul Ayres
- Anguish Mark Gotham
- Bless the Lord, O my soul Jonathan Dove
- Carole Rob Godman
- Footnote John Hawkins
- Four Psalms for Soprano and Organ Sebastian Forbes
- Glad Day Mike Westbrook
- I am the day Jonathan Dove
- In Handel’s Name Akmal Parwez
- In beauty may I walk Jonathan Dove
- Into thy hands Jonathan Dove
- Jesu, swete dome dear Andrew Bates
- Le Tombeau d’Handel Krzysztof Aleksander Janczak
- Little Prelude Jos Martens
- Messyah Paul Ayres
- Niagara Jonathan Dove
- Prelude Marcus Blunt
- Prelude and Jubilate Iain Quinn
- Scherzo on “Gopsal” Alan Smith
- Seek him that maketh the seven stars Jonathan Dove
- The Three Kings Jonathan Dove
- Voces Eberhand Bottcher
- Water Bubbling Satoru Ikeda
- Wedding Anthem Paul Ayres
- Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Antony Pitts
Festival performances by Paul Ayres
World premiere
LFCCM 2009
- Lunchtime Recital on Friday 15 May 2009 at St Pancras Parish Church
LFCCM 2008
- Children’s Jazz Event on Friday 16 May 2008 at St Clement Danes Church
LFCCM 2007
- Organ Recital on Monday 14 May 2007 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Concert on Friday 18 May 2007 at The Foundling Museum
LFCCM 2006
- Concert on Sunday 7 May 2006 at St George’s, Hanover Square
- Lunchtime Recital on Tuesday 9 May 2006 at St Pancras Parish Church
- Who was Handel? on Friday 12 May 2006 at The Foundling Museum
LFCCM 2002
- Lunchtime Recital on Thursday 9 May 2002 at St Pancras Parish Church
Recorded performances of works by Paul Ayres
LFCCM 2015
- Te lucis ante terminum performed by The Choir of St Pancras Parish Church / Christopher Batchelor Conductor
- The Light Walking performed by William Petter Tenor / Peter Foggitt Piano
