Minister of Music

Darryl Nixon

Darryl Nixon was born in Vancouver,B.C., Canada and did his early musical training in piano, organ and theory at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada under the tutelage of Donald Hadfield, Jean Broadfoot, Boyd Macdonald and Lawrence Ritchey.

He continued his studies in organ and harpsichord at the Conservatoire de Geneve(Switzerland) under Lionel Rogg and Christiane Jaccottet winning the Premier Prix avec distinction and the Prix Henri Broillet for excellence in organ performance.

Darryl continued his studies through workshops and private consultations with Anton Heiller, Michel Chapuis, Guy Bovet, Kenneth Gilbert, Ton Koopman and others while continuing at the Conservatoire de Geneve as Lionel Rogg's assistant. As well he taught at the Conservatoire Populaire de Geneve and the Institut de Musique Ancienne, also of Geneva.

Darryl also pursued an active career as a soloist, continuo player and chamber musician on harpsichord and organ, giving concerts, workshops and tours in Switzerland, France, Germany, England, Holland, Poland, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada.

In 1983, he moved back to Canada with his wife to take up the position of Minister of Music at St. Andrew's-Wesley Church, Vancouver, B.C.,Canada to which position he has dedicated himself these last 2 decades, leading an active music programme as organist, pianist, choir and orchestral conductor and accompanist in service to this particular community.

Recently he has conducted the North American premier of "The Armed Man" by Karl Jenkins, completed a series of the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, begun a new series covering representative repertoire of the French and German romantic organ literature and begun a series(beginning February 2005) of evening services("Sundays At 7:30") incorporating the complete piano concertos of Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach cantatas and other solo and choral oratorio.

Darryl Nixon lives on Bowen Island with his wife, Alison, who is also a conductor, and their three children.