Donald Hunt

From the middle of the twentieth century onward, Donald Hunt established himself among England’s leading choral conductors, earning particular distinction for his command of British sacred repertoire. Critics praised his accounts of Elgar, Finzi, Holst, Herbert Sumsion, William Llewellyn, Judith Weir, and additional composers in that tradition, yet his reputation also rested on acclaimed performances of J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Bruckner.

Born in Gloucester on 26 July 1930, Hunt sang as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral and, beginning at age thirteen, received instruction from the cathedral organist and composer Herbert Sumsion. He became Sumsion’s assistant at seventeen and later obtained a doctorate from Leeds University in 1975. His first appearance as a conductor occurred in 1957, when he directed the Halifax Choral Society in Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, a score with which he would remain closely associated. Between 1958 and 1975 he served as organist and choirmaster at Leeds Parish Church while simultaneously acting, from 1961 onward, as associate conductor and chorus master of the Leeds Philharmonic Society and holding comparable posts with the Halifax Choral Society and the Leeds Festival Chorus.

From 1976 to 1996 Hunt held the posts of organist and master of choristers at Worcester Cathedral. During those years he forged a lasting connection with the Three Choirs Festival, which rotates annually among Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester; he served as its artistic director and conductor on eight occasions between 1975 and 1996. After leaving Worcester Cathedral he continued to direct performances, notably several at the 2007 Elgar Anniversary Festival marking the composer’s 150th birthday, and maintained an affiliation with the Elgar School of Music in Worcester, first as principal and, after 2007, as music advisor.

Appointed Officer of the British Empire in 1993, Hunt also produced a substantial catalogue of choral and organ compositions, among which the Hymnus Paschalis of 1995, scored for three choirs, stands as one of his largest achievements. He authored several books, including Elgar and the Three Choirs Festival, published by Osborne Books in 1999, and taught at Leeds College of Music. Numerous recordings of his work appeared on the Naxos, Hyperion (Helios), and Priory labels. He died in Worcester on 4 August 2018.