The Tik-tok organist has given up her position as Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, in order to spend more time at the organ.
The College says: Anna Lapwood MBE will step down as Pembroke College’s Janeway Director of Music at the end of this academic year to devote more time to her career as a concert organist.
Anna joined Pembroke as its Director of Music in September 2016 after graduating from Magdalen College, Oxford, where she was its first-ever female organ scholar. In 2020, she was elected a Bye-Fellow of Pembroke.
Lord Smith, Master of Pembroke, said: “Anna has transformed Pembroke’s music and choirs during her time as Director of Music. Her energy, enthusiasm and sheer professionalism have lit up the quality of our Chapel Choir; she has established our Girls’ Choir; she has
brought both choirs onto Classic FM and Radio 3; she has brought the power of music to make a difference to communities and schools across Zambia; and she has given a real lift to the entire College in the process. We will miss her terribly, and wish her all the very best for her future freelance career.”
While the College is saddened to lose such a trailblazing individual, it wishes Anna well and looks forward to watching the development of her future career with close interest.
Anna writes: ‘Some rather big news to share. At the end of this Academic year I’m going to be leaving my job at Pembroke so that I can pursue organ playing full-time. This is, without a doubt, one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, and I can’t describe how much I’m going to miss the wonderful musicians in the Chapel Choir and Girls’ Choir. They have taught me so much. Thanks to them for being patient with me as I have cried in almost every service since telling them I was leaving… what is it about a good hymn that makes the tears flow?! I will miss them so much, but I can’t wait to see what they will achieve with a new Director of Music, and I will be cheering them on from my organ bench.’
Lapwood, 29, is an associate artist at the Royal Albert Hall.
photo: Sony/Pembroke
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