Friday, April 26, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 3:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church, 800 Scott Street, Little Rock
A joyous program of British music will lift your spirits this April. Conducted by Tim Allen and introduced in his own British accent, the Arkansas Chamber Singers will perform a varied program of sacred and secular choral masterpieces. From John Stainer’s majestic “I Saw the Lord” through to Edward Elgar’s “Songs from the Bavarian Highlands.” Also featuring in the rest of the program will be Benjamin Britten’s classic anthem, “Rejoice in the Lamb”, with its cast of characters including Jeoffrey the cat.
Tim Allen grew up in St Albans, England where he learned the organ while at St. Albans School. Over his career he has worked in cathedrals, churches, universities and schools on both sides of the Atlantic. He was Organ-Scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he studied the organ with Nicolas Kynaston. After graduating with his degree in Music he was appointed Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral where he featured as accompanist on several broadcasts and recordings. In 1991 he moved to become Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Columb’s Cathedral in Derry, Northern Ireland. Over the course of ten years he revived the Cathedral choir of men and boys, acted as City Organist, and co-founded the award-winning Two Cathedrals Festival – a major cross-community Music Festival.
Tim moved to the USA in 2001. In 2006 he was appointed Canon Precentor at Trinity Cathedral in Little Rock. Following six years at Trinity Cathedral Tim moved across Interstate 630 to St Mark’s Episcopal Church in 2012. There he leads a busy and varied program with a vibrant adult choir, a handbell choir, and a group of enthusiastic young choristers.
As well as being a church organist Tim is experienced and highly regarded as a choir trainer, recitalist, and continuo player. He is also a published composer. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and has worked with many major musical ensembles in the UK and the USA.
In addition to his duties at St Mark’s Tim is also the Organist of Hendrix College in Conway. He teaches organ and piano there and works as part of the Choral program at the college.
He is married to the renowned soprano, Christine Westhoff, and is the proud father of Cecilia.