Bartosz Rafal Thiede or Bart, as he is known by most, was born in Poland but moved early in his life, with his family, to Northern Ireland.
Bartosz was first educated at St. Colman’s College, Newry where he began his organ studies and sparked his love for choral music singing as a tenor with the Schola Cantorum Choir in Belfast.
In 2013 Bartosz was awarded the sixth form music scholarship to attend Clifton College, Bristol. At Clifton College, he developed his organ playing technique further; accompanying daily services as well as solemnities, winning the 2014 Intermediate Category of the Northern Irish International Organ Competition (judged by Frédéric Blanc) and also attended RCO courses.
While at Clifton College, Bart also developed a passion for chamber music by starting an Early Music Ensemble consisting of his friends and went on to perform works by Vivaldi and Bach’s Cantata BWV 56. He also directed the Bristol Ensemble from the harpsichord in concert.
In 2015 Bart went on to win an organ scholarship at Exeter College, Oxford with a place to read music. He studies organ with William Whitehead and conducting with Paul Spicer. As the organ scholar, he is solely responsible for providing music for three services a week, both by, respectively, accompanying from the organ as well as rehearsing and conducting the choir.
He also runs the Exeter College Lunchtime Organ Recital series and various administrations of the choir.
Bartosz has played on BBC Radio 4 Longwave Daily Worship Broadcasts, accompanied the choir in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, Tower of London, and has recently organised a tour of Malta and Sicily with the college choir.
His other recent projects included Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Mozart’s Requiem (R. Levin Edition), and the opening of a newly restored organ at Bewdley Methodist Church with a recital focused on the works of Brahms.
In the coming months, Bartosz will be returning to St. Paul’s Cathedral, London to direct the Exeter College Chapel Choir in two services, and later this summer he will undertake a tour of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.
Bart was Highly Commended and awarded a Study Bursary in the Organ Competitions at Newry Musical Feis in 2012.
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