Conductor
Oliver Tarney is recognised for both his composition skills and his adeptness as a conductor. His broad conducting experience covers a variety of settings, from leading ensembles at Winchester College to acting as a répétiteur and chorus master at the renowned St Endellion Music Festival.
His conducting skills are informed by studies with respected conductors Manvinder Rattan, Sarah Tennant-Flowers, and Christopher Seaman. These experiences have contributed to his approach, especially evident in his work with choirs. In roles such as vocal leader for the Gabrieli Consort ROAR courses and course conductor for the National Youth Choir,
Oliver has shown a great capacity to motivate and encourage both amateur and professional choirs and instrumental groups. His involvement as a guest conductor for the ORA Singers, co-director of music for the Rodolfus Choral Courses, and director of music at the Morland Choristers' Camp, highlights his adaptability and dedication as a musician. His work with Winchester Philharmonic Choir and the Jubilee Choir in Hampshire also also underline his broad experience of choral settings, and his commitment to enhancing producing high-quality music.
His proactive, good-humoured approach to conducting, paired with a thorough understanding of vocal technique, and choral repertoire, leads to high-quality performances that captivate both audiences and performers. Oliver's conducting work is a key aspect of his career, highlighting his commitment to musical quality, innovation, and the development of musical talent.
Educator
Oliver Tarney currently holds a distinguished position as Head of Academic Music at Winchester College, where his significant experience spans across independent, state, and various educational settings. His expertise is not limited to the classroom; Tarney is also a respected private tutor for GCSE and A-level students. He has a remarkable track record of securing top grades for his pupils and facilitating their success at university level.
In his role, Oliver has curated a curriculum that is both inclusive and stimulating, ensuring young musicians can flourish. He adopts a comprehensive teaching approach that blends technical skill development with creative exploration, using innovative methods that often mix technology and interdisciplinary themes to enhance learning.
As an established composer, Oliver is passionate about composition teaching, and can offer his students invaluable real-world insights into music composition, rehearsal, and performance. He is also composition tutor and mentor for the National Youth Choir and ORA Singers.
Accompanist
Oliver Tarney is a highly skilled and accomplished pianist who has accompanied recitals, concerts, music exams, and diplomas for nearly two decades.
With a rich music background that includes playing for Winchester College's pupils and ensembles, acting as a répétiteur at the St Endellion Music Festival, and collaborating with Sing for Pleasure, Oliver's piano playing has not only supported but also enhanced a wide range of musical performances.
He is also very active as an instrumental teachers and is committed to helping people find a love of music in different forms.
About
Oliver Tarney was born (1984) and educated in Lancaster, moving on to read music at Manchester university. After completing a Master's Degree in composition, and training as a teacher, he is now Head of Academic Music and Composition at Winchester College in Hampshire. He sings regularly with the college's chapel choir and with Winchester Cathedral choir.
His most recent works are published by Oxford University Press, including the Missa Media Nocte and The Wise Men and the Star. Other recent pieces Lux Stellarum, a requiem written for the American Cathedral in Paris, first performed at St Sulpice, and Majora Canamus, written for the Southern Cathedrals' Festival in Winchester, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester was written for Sansara Chamber Choir (winners of the 2015 London International A Cappella Choir Competition) with whom he is an associate composer, and has been recorded on their their acclaimed CD, Cloths of Heaven (Convivium Records).
2019 saw his St Mark Passion, commissioned by the St Endellion Easter Festival 2019, given its first performance. His 2014 Magnificat has been recorded by Serafine Chamber Choir & Sinfonia and released on the Convivium Records label to wide critical acclaim. Other recent recordings include a setting of Maria Virgo assumpta est for Suzi Digby's ORA Singers, and a set of three Christmas pieces (The Waiting Sky, Balulalow, and The Wise Men and the Star) recorded for Sansara’s most recent album, The Waiting Sky. Other recent commissions include a work for Sonoro Chamber Choir as part of their ‘Choral Inspirations’ series, and the Festival Commission for the St David’s Cathedral Festival, 2020.
Oliver has worked extensively with 'Sing for pleasure', the national choral organisation that promotes choral singing in communities, choirs, and classrooms. He is passionate about inspiring others to find a love of singing.