David Houlder was born in Liverpool but is also a proud Prestonian. Educated at Preston Grammar School, he studied organ there with John Robinson, gaining his FRCO at the age of 17. He read music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge for the MA degree, continuing his studies with Arnold Richardson in London. He embarked upon a teaching career as Music Master at Wirral Grammar School for Boys and from 1981 to 1999 he was Director of Music at Liverpool's historic Blue Coat School.
In 1987 David was appointed Sub-Organist of Liverpool Cathedral, latterly combining that position with a freelance career both as recitalist and accompanist. He has played all of the cathedral organs in England and in 2001 he enjoyed a period as Acting-Assistant Organist of York Minster.
In November 2003, after nearly thirty years music-making on Merseyside, David accepted the position of Sub-Organist at Leeds Parish Church. In addition to accompanying the daily choral services, he directs two choirs and is organist to the St. Peters’ Singers.
David specialises in organ and piano transcriptions of orchestral scores and is in great demand as accompanist to choral societies on both sides of the Pennines. He is chief accompanist to the Halifax Choral Society and Organist and Associate Conductor of the Doncaster Choral Society. His non-musical interests include shipping, railways and photography.
You can contact David directly by
email.