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Paul Hillier

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul Hillier was born in 1949 in Dorchester and is an English conductor, singer and baritone. In 1967 he began studying voice at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. In 1974 he founded the Hilliard Ensemble with the tenor Paul Elliott and the countertenor David James, and led it until 1990. That year he started Theatre of Voices, a group that performs contemporary repertoire as well as early music. With the American ensemble His Majestie's Clerkes he recorded early American choral music, including by William Billings, on the album A Land of Pure Delight.

Music and breakthrough

Hillier specialises in both early and contemporary music, above all that of Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt. He directed the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, was director of the Early Music Institute at Indiana University and from 2003 to 2023 led Ars Nova in Copenhagen. From 2008 he was artistic director of Chamber Choir Ireland. He also recorded solo albums, partly with the harpist Andrew Lawrence-King.

Influence

He also wrote and edited books, including the first English-language study of Arvo Pärt and a collection of Steve Reich's writings. In 2006 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a recording by the Hilliard Ensemble, for example from the early music repertoire. Notice how a few voices without instruments form a single sound.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists