Canadian born Patrick Wedd directed his first church choir at the age of twelve.
Having obtained degrees in organ performance from the Universities of Toronto
and British Columbia, he began his professional career in Vancouver where he
served for many years as Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral. In 1986
he moved to Montreal to become Artistic Director of the Tudor Singers, a professional
ensemble which toured extensively in Canada, and Music Director of the Church
of St Andrew and St Paul. In 1991 he became Music Director of the Church of
St John the Evangelist. Since September 1996 he has assumed the position of
Director of Music at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal. Patrick Wedd has played
recitals in Canada, the United States, Australia and England. He has appeared
as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
and the Orchestra of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and his recordings
include contemporary music for the Canadian Music Centre, light classics for
the CBC, and the Poulenc and Jongen concertos with the Calgary Philharmonic
Orchestra. He has given many workshops and conductors master-classes, and for
three years was in charge of the choral programme of the Faculty of Music at
the Universite de Montreal. He is currently Artistic Director of the Montreal
Boys' Choir Course, and Founder/Director of the choral ensemble Musica Orbium.
A recording of Christmas music with the choirs of Christ Church Cathedral appears
on the ATMA label, and a disc of music for trombone and organ with renowned
virtuoso Alain Trudel is already available on Naxos. Patrick Wedd has composed
and arranged extensively, chiefly for the church, and has received commissions
from church groups and choral associations across Canada. He was a member of
the National Task Force for the new Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada
and has received an honorary Doctorate in Divinity from the Montreal Diocesan
Theological College (Anglican) in recognition of his contribution to the life
and work of the Church. He is frequently heard as host and commentator on CBC
radio. He has presented cycles of the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen,
Jehan Alain, Nicolas de Grigny and Kenneth Leighton, and has made recital appearances
on the regular series of the Societe de musique contemporaine du Quebec, the
Festival "Orgue et couleurs" and the Montreal Bach Festival.