Acting Musical Director

Dónal McCann is an acclaimed conductor, organist and composer. Born in Belfast, his musical training began as a chorister at St Peter’s Cathedral, before taking up piano and organ tuition in Dublin. He read music and was an organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, where he achieved a double first and accompanied the world-renowned choir in services, tours, recording and broadcasts, including Carols from King’s.

Dónal is in demand as an organ soloist, giving recitals in the UK and abroad, most recently in Uppsala, Sweden, Westminster Abbey and opening the restored organ of the church of St Lawrence in Malta. He achieved the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists aged 17, and the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

He is Principal Organist of the Oxford Bach Soloists, one of the UK’s leading early music groups, which recently released its debut recording on Signum Records, and completed a large-scale performance project in New York directed by Peter Sellars. His debut solo album of organ works by Bach and Walther, released during his tenure as Assistant Organist of New College, Oxford, was met with critical acclaim. Dónal is also an award-winning composer, with his works receiving multiple performances on BBC Radio 3.

As Organist and Head of Chapel Music at Winchester College, Dónal trains and directs the Chapel and Chantry Choirs, including the Quiristers: the college’s boy choristers. He is always happy to hear from prospective Quiristers and their families.