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The English organist and tenor, Robert Mingay-Smith [Robert Smith], began his musical career as an organist at the age of 14 and completed the ABRSM Organ Diploma for performance at the age of 19. In 1998 he became Director of Music at St Peter’s Church in Brandon, Suffolk after which he commenced his studies in organ, voice and bassoon at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in London (2001-2005). He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors in 2005, and continued studying organ under Dame Gillian Weir and Peter Wright.
During his career, Robert Mingay-Smith has held choral scholarships at both St Edmundsbury Cathedral and St Martin-in-the-fields, and posts as Assistant Director of Music at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich (2002-2005), and St. Michael’s Cornhill, London. From February 2009 to July 2013 he was a member of the British vocal ensemble Voces8 with whom he toured world-wide. During his time with the ensemble they recorded six CD's of classical and jazz repertoire, including the J.S. Bach's Motets and "Aces High" and made several television and radio appearances.
Robert Mingay-Smith divides his time between conducting, playing the organ, accompanying and composing. He performs regularly as an organ soloist in the UK and at many of London’s churches and cathedrals. He has performed all over America and in concerts improvising alongside Naji Hakim. He is a founder member of the flute & organ duo Inversion, alongside the award-winning flautist Ruth Stockdale with whom he tours internationally.
Since January 2015, Robert Mingay-Smith is the director of the Marble Hill Singers who are based in Twickenham. He also founded the Square Mile Music Series and is director of both the St Mary-at-Hill Choir & Square Mile Consort; all of which are based at St Mary-at-Hill Church, Lovat Lane where he is the Director of Music, a post he has held since November 2007. In December 2014, he founded his own ensemble, Seraphim, of which he is Artistic Director. Seraphim is a professional ensemble composed of six musicians with a wealth of experience from the worlds of church music, opera, and the concert hall at an international level. They are versatile and highly regarded for their expressive music-making and moving interpretations. They are the resident ensemble at St Mary-at-Hill, London and provide music for the liturgy and appear regularly in the Square Mile Music Series. Since September 2017, he is also Director of Music at St John's Wimbledon. He currently lives in London, England. |
