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Reverend Ronald Corp OBE

Ronald Corp

Areas of Interest

Charity, Education, Music

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Music, 2012

Biography

Ronald Corp is a composer, conductor, educator, charity benefactor, and ordained non-stipendiary Anglican priest.

In 1970 Ronald went to Oxford University to study music and after graduating in 1973 went to work as Librarian at BBC Radio 3. He remained there for almost 14 years, providing arrangements, and occasionally his own works, for a variety of choral groups. In 1987 Ronald left the BBC to become a freelance musician and in 1988 he founded the New London Orchestra to promote late 19th and 20th Century music.

Ronald is passionate about education, and the Orchestra's education programme promotes music-making in schools, offering opportunities to children from all backgrounds. He is also founder and artistic director of the New London Children's Choir, which was set up in 1991 with the aim of introducing young people to both the challenges and the fun of singing and performing.

Ronald has recorded extensively, producing a variety of works including the award-winning British Light Music Classics. He has also published a number of books, including a series of educational works that provide an introduction to the music of other cultures. Ronald's book The Choral Singer's Companion brings together a lifetime's experience and expertise in choral work.

In 1998 Ronald was ordained priest in the Anglican Church and his faith is reflected in his composition of a variety of anthems, masses and carols. In 2012 he was awarded the OBE for services to music.



Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for the Reverend Ronald Corp, OBE, for the award of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.

Ronald Corp is a composer, conductor, educator, charity benefactor, and ordained non-stipendiary Anglican priest.

Born in Somerset in 1951, Ronald Corp discovered a love of music early in life. As a young child he taught himself to play piano and was soon creating and playing his own compositions. In 1970 he went to Oxford University to study music and after graduating in 1973 went to work as Librarian at BBC Radio 3. He remained there for almost 14 years, providing arrangements, and occasionally his own works, for a variety of choral groups.

In 1987 Ronald left the BBC to become a freelance musician. In 1988 he founded the New London Orchestra and it was here that Ronald made it his mission both to promote late 19th and 20th Century music and to make it accessible to new audiences.

Ronald is passionate about education, and the Orchestra's education programme promotes music-making in schools, offering opportunities to children from all backgrounds. Today the New London Orchestra enjoys a well-earned reputation for its pursuit of excellence and in 2011, under Ronald's directorship, it became the first ever orchestra-in-residence in the London Borough of Newham.

Ronald is also founder and artistic director of the New London Children's Choir, which he set up in 1991 with the aim of introducing young people to both the challenges and the fun of singing and performing. The Choir has a special emphasis on commissioning new works from today's composers. It offers boys and girls aged from 7 to 19 the opportunity to learn to sing and enjoy a unique musical experience. The New London Children's Choir has appeared in all the major London concert halls, with some of the UK's finest symphony orchestras and conductors, and has also toured overseas.

In 1994 Ronald became musical director of The London Chorus, leading 120 amateur singers to perform at venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. He is also musical director of Highgate Choral Society, a community choir with a membership of over 200 amateur singers. One of Britain's longest established amateur choirs, the group enjoys an outstanding reputation for achieving the very highest standards of performance. Ronald has also been guest conductor with many leading orchestras, including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Ireland's RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ronald has recorded extensively, producing a variety of works including the award-winning British Light Music Classics. He has also published a number of books, including a series of educational works that provide an introduction to the music of other cultures. His book The Choral Singer's Companion brings together a lifetime's experience and expertise in choral work.

In 1998 Ronald was ordained priest in the Anglican Church and his faith is reflected in his composition of a variety of anthems, masses and carols. Other compositions include a Symphony, a piano concerto, three string quartets, cantatas including And all the trumpets sounded, a children's opera The Ice Mountain, settings of Buddhist verses including Dhammapada, Things I didn't say to poems on the theme of dementia and a solo cantata based on the novella the Yellow Wallpaper, all of which have been commercially recorded.

In 2000 he was appointed a Trustee of the Musicians Benevolent Fund and since 2011 he has served as Chair for the Giving Committee. In 2012 Ronald was awarded the OBE for services to music.

As a renowned musician, composer and philanthropist, we are delighted to welcome Ronald Corp to our Anglia Ruskin community.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present the Reverend Ronald Corp OBE for the award of Doctor of Music, honoris causa."