By Anne W. Semmes
A month ago, James O’Donnell was orchestrating the funeral proceedings of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey where he has served for over two decades as the Abbey’s Director of Music and principal conductor of the Abbey Choir. But now he is on his way to Christ Church Greenwich, to perform as organist for the sold out inaugural celebratory concert of the Church’s new British-made Harrison & Harrison organ, on this Saturday evening at 5 p.m.
O’Donnell is one of the world’s most celebrated concert organists, having performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, throughout Europe, the U.S., and in concert halls in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. But he will soon be based on this side of the pond, having signed on in January 2023 as Professor in the Yale School of Music and Yale Institute of Sacred Music. He will leave the Abbey this Christmas.
The scoop is O’Donnell will also become a visiting artist in residence at Christ Church over the next two years. This news is shared by Jamie Hitel, O’Donnell’s bit younger classmate at the Westcliff High School for Boys in Essex, England. Hitel has served Christ Church Greenwich as Director of Music since 2008.
With O’Donnell having played a part in launching Hitel’s career, it early on came to Hitel as the new organ took shape at Christ Church that O’Donnell was the “appropriate” choice to give the celebratory recital for the new organ. “He’s a phenomenal musician.” Plus, adds Hitel, as Westminster Abbey also has a Harrison & Harrison organ (though larger to fill its space) that O’Donnell played, he was the “obvious choice.”
“He’s such a wonderful musician,” adds Hitel “His choir both at Westminster Cathedral and at Westminster Abbey are among the best, if not the best in Britain and the world. His choir training is superb.” Addressing O’Donnell’s new post at Yale, Hitel tells, “I know that one of his passions is sharing the wealth of good practice in church music, educating future church musicians and so on. As he said to me, he’s been in cathedral music for almost 40 years. And it’s time now to do something else and to prepare the next generation.
“And so, if we can be a part of that, almost like a practical manifestation of that here at Christ Church. And we can collaborate both with James and with the Institute of Sacred Music, which is housed at Yale, then I think it could be a very fruitful time.”
Hitel had come to Christ Church from the UK to “basically rebuild the music program,” that is now a world class RSCM-certified church music program. It includes six choirs – with the Men and Boys choir the very model of the Anglican choral tradition – surely all to be enhanced by the new organ. During those rebuilding years, another British talent, Philip Moore, the noted music director and composer has served as a visiting artist. “He usually writes some fantastic music for us,” says Hitel. “He works with our choirs, takes rehearsals, and helps start our services. But his is a much more occasional relationship, even though it’s gone on 13 years. But the fact that James is just up the road at Yale, means that we can have a closer collaboration on a more hands on basis.”
Hitel looks back on those Westcliff High School days when O’Donnell would play the organ at the school’s carol services. Hitel was learning to play the organ, but when looking for a more advanced teacher contacted O’Donnell, then assistant director of music at Westminster Cathedral. O’Donnell took him on age 16. After two years of lessons Hitel won an organ scholarship to Cambridge University, “which really set me off on my career,” he tells. But he calls O’Donnell a “stunning player, a thoroughly likable and congenial person. And people are going to love him.”
