Organist
I have been Organist of Wesley Methodist Church, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex since 1978. I am available to play for church services except on Sundays (though I am occasionally available on Sunday evenings), also for weddings, funerals, baptisms and other special services, and for recitals.
Harpsichordist
I am available for continuo playing on harpsichord or organ. Recent performances include Bach's St Matthew Passion with the Eastwood Chorale. I have an easily transportable virginal (type of small harpsichord) upon which I can provide an evening's entertainment of renaissance, baroque and early classical music, either solo or with one or more members of the Legra Ensemble.
My Alec Hodsdon virginal
Accordionist
I
play accordion and piano with the renowned folk group, The
Famous Potatoes. I have done session work as an accordion soloist, including
TV adverts and a Garth Hewitt video. I appear regularly as 'The Prof' with poet
Paul Cookson at the Greenbelt Festival,
when we present 'The Twist'. We also appeared at Greenbelt's Angels Weekend, and
debuted our larger 'Twist' show, together with storyteller/writer Bob Hartman and poet/broadcaster
Stewart Henderson, at the 2004 Spring
Harvest at Minehead.
I specialise
in accordion playing of the folk / barn dance / ceilidh / English / Irish / American / Cajun
tradition, but as 'The Twist' features a 'Challenge the Prof' section where
three random tunes called out by the audience have to be seamlessly merged
together (Balamory - Smoke On The Water - Shine, Jesus, Shine was one of 2004's classics), the style can extend in any one of a number of directions!
Pianist / Accompanist
I am an experienced accompanist (piano, organ and harpsichord) for voice and all solo instruments. I am available for recitals, concerts, lesson and festival accompaniment (Leigh-on-Sea Musical Festival 2004 onwards and Southend Music Festival from 2005) and examination work. I have a portable Technics P50 digital piano and amplifier which I can bring if no piano is available.
Singer
I am also an accomplished bass singer if you need a soloist for your choir concert at short notice.
To book me
Contact: paul.mcdowell@easynet.co.uk or telephone 01702 474255.
