Biography:

Andrew Carter (13 December 1939 – 5 January 2026) was an English composer, pedagogue, conductor and arranger. Carter conducted choral concerts in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He was known for choral works such as an arrangement of the carol “A maiden most gentle”, his Benedicite and a mass for the tercentenary of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. His compositions have been described as well-crafted accessible music building on tradition, with strong melodies respecting the texts.[1]

Life and career

Andrew Carter was born in Leicester on 13 December 1939.[2][3] His mother was an amateur pianist, and several family members were bell-ringers.[4]

He studied piano and organ at the University of Leeds.[4] He then moved to York and joined the York Minster choir,[2] at the time conducted by Francis Jackson,[1] as a bass singer[2][5] in 1962.[4] The position, at the Minster uniquely named “songman”, involved singing every day except Wednesday.[4] He also worked there as a music teacher, gaining experience in choral conducting.[5] He founded the Chapter House Choir, a mixed voice ensemble at the Minster, in 1965. They held candle-light concerts at the chapter house after which they were named, including handbells.[4] He directed them for 17 years, achieving national recognition[2] and several prizes in the BBC’s Let the Peoples Sing competition.[5] One of the singers in the group was Lynne Dawson.[4]

In 1984, he spent a year in New Zealand,[1] conducting the Auckland Dorian Choir, and the chamber choir of Auckland University.[5] When he returned to York, he focused on composition.[2] Oxford University Press published more than fifty of his compositions over 25 years.[6] The Nine Lessons and Carols service with the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, broadcast annually by the BBC, has included several of his carols, including his arrangement of “A maiden most gentle” and Mary’s Magnificat.[4] In composing, he shared elements with John Rutter, such as writing well-crafted accessible music building on tradition, pleasing to sing and to listen to, with “a good eye for a text and … strong melodic gifts”.[1]

In 1997, Carter was commissioned to write a mass (Missa Sancti Pauli),[1] set for choir and organ, for the tercentenary of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. His Benedicite has been performed internationally. Horizons and Musick’s Jubilee were written for British choirs, while he wrote a Te Deum and the Maryland Magnificat for American Lutheran choirs.[5] In 2007, he composed a 22-variation passacaglia and fugue for organ, for the 90th birthday of the former York Minster organist Francis Jackson,[7] which was premiered at the Minster.[6]

He conducted choral concerts in Europe, Australia and New Zealand,[2] and gave workshops at his home and abroad.[5]

Personal life and death

Carter was married to Sylvia.[4] He died on 5 January 2026, at the age of 86.[2]

Credits: