David Willcocks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir David Willcocks CBE, MC
David Willcocks in Belfast, September 2006 with "Melisma"
Born	David Valentine Willcocks (1919-12-30)30 December 1919 Newquay, Cornwall, England
Died	17 September 2015(2015-09-17) (aged 95) Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Occupation	Choral conductor Organist Composer College director Army Officer
Organisation	Choir of King's College, Cambridge The Bach Choir City of Bath Bach Choir Royal College of Music British Army

Sir David Valentine Willcocks (30 December 1919 – 17 September 2015) was a famous British choir conductor, organist, composer, and music leader. He was especially known for his work with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. He led this choir from 1957 to 1974. During this time, he made many radio broadcasts and recordings.

Sir David also wrote and arranged music, especially for Christmas carols. Many of his carol arrangements were published in the Carols for Choirs books. He worked on these books with Reginald Jacques and John Rutter. He was also the director of the Royal College of Music in London.

During World War II, he served as an officer in the British Army. He was given the Military Cross for his brave actions in France in July 1944. His older son, Jonathan Willcocks, is also a composer.

David Willcocks' Early Life and Education

David Willcocks was born in Newquay, Cornwall, England. He started his music training early. From 1929 to 1934, he was a chorister (a choir singer) at Westminster Abbey. This was a very important place for music.

Later, from 1934 to 1938, he studied music at Clifton College in Bristol. His teacher there, Douglas Fox, had a big influence on his music. In 1939, he became an organ scholar at King's College, Cambridge. This meant he was a student who played the organ for the college.

Military Service During World War II

When World War II started, David Willcocks paused his music studies. He joined the British Army. On 15 February 1941, he became a second lieutenant in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

He showed great bravery during the Battle of Normandy in France. This was on the night of 10/11 July 1944. He was serving as an intelligence officer for his battalion. His unit was ordered to hold a place called Hill 112. He helped his soldiers fight off German attacks by calling for artillery support. Even when his commanding officers were hurt, he took charge. He helped his battalion stay strong. For his courage, he was awarded the Military Cross on 21 December 1944.

David Willcocks' Amazing Musical Career

After the war, David Willcocks went back to Cambridge in 1945. He finished his studies. In 1947, he became a Fellow of King's College. He also became the conductor of the Cambridge Philharmonic Society.

In the same year, he became the organist at Salisbury Cathedral. He also led the Salisbury Musical Society. In 1950, he moved to Worcester Cathedral. He stayed there until 1957. During this time, he was the cathedral's organist. He also led the famous Three Choirs Festival three times.

Leading the King's College Choir

From 1957 to 1974, David Willcocks held the job he is most famous for. He was the Director of Music at King's College, Cambridge. He made many recordings with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. One famous recording was of Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium in 1965.

The choir traveled a lot, performing concerts all over the world. They also became very well known through TV and radio shows. Under Willcocks's direction, the Cambridge University Musical Society performed Benjamin Britten's War Requiem in many countries. In 1960, he also became the music director of the Bach Choir in London.

Director of the Royal College of Music

In the 1970s, he became the Director of the Royal College of Music. This is a very important music school. In 1971, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 1977, he was made a Knight Bachelor by the Queen. This meant he could be called "Sir."

He received over fifty honorary degrees from universities around the world. He was also the President of the City of Bath Bach Choir. For the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer, Sir David was a special music director. He conducted the Bach Choir, which sang during the ceremony. About 750 million people watched this event on TV.

After leaving the Royal College, Sir David continued to conduct and edit music. In 1990, The New York Times wrote about him. They noted he had visited the United States nine times in one year. He conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and performed at the Mostly Mozart festival in New York.

On 15 May 2010, a celebration of his music took place. It was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Singers from the Really Big Chorus performed pieces chosen by Sir David. Choristers from King's College Choir also performed.

Sir David Willcocks passed away at his home in Cambridge on 17 September 2015.

Famous Recordings and Broadcasts

Sir David Willcocks made many recordings. He worked with groups like the (London) Bach Choir, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also recorded regularly with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. With this choir, he conducted the annual Nine Lessons and Carols service. This service is broadcast by the BBC every Christmas Eve.

He is especially known for his arrangements of Christmas carols. Many of these were first written for the Nine Lessons and Carols service. They are published in the five Carols for Choirs books. These books were edited by Willcocks with Reginald Jacques or John Rutter. His special descant arrangements for carols are very famous and loved.

In 1968, Sir David Willcocks conducted his London Bach Choir for a studio recording. It was for the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by the famous rock band The Rolling Stones.

On 21 September 2010, he was featured on a BBC Radio 4 show called Soul Music. He talked about Fauré's Requiem. He also shared his memories of the fighting at Hill 112 during the war. He even questioned if war was right.

Selected Music Compositions

Sir David Willcocks also wrote his own music. Here are some of his compositions:

• Five Folksongs (1972)
• Introduction (Fanfare), Variations and Fughetto on the Hymn Tune Jena (Breslau) (1986)
• A Ceremony of Psalms (1989)
• Tomorrow shall be my dancing day

Honours and Awards

Commonwealth Honours

Country	Date of award	Appointment	Post-nominal letters
United Kingdom	1971	Commander of the Order of the British Empire	CBE
United Kingdom	1977	Knight Bachelor	Kt

Military Decorations

Country	Date of award	Decoration	Post-nominal letters
United Kingdom	21 December 1944	Military Cross	MC
United Kingdom		1939-45 Star
United Kingdom		France and Germany Star
United Kingdom		Defence Medal
United Kingdom		War Medal

Scholastic Honours

Location	Date of award	School	Position
England	1938	Royal College of Organists	Fellow (FRCO)
England	1947	King's College, Cambridge	Fellow
England	1965	Royal Academy of Music	Honorary Fellow (FRAM)
England	1965	Royal School of Church Music	Fellow (FRSCM)
Canada	1967	Royal Canadian College of Organists	Fellow (FRCCO)
England	1971	Royal College of Music	Fellow (FRCM)
England	1976	Trinity College London	Honorary Fellow (HonFTCL)
England	1977	Royal Northern College of Music	Fellow (FRNCM)
England	1979	King's College Cambridge	Honorary Fellow
England	1980	Guildhall School of Music	Honorary Fellow (FGSM)
England	1982	Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama	Fellow (FRSAMD)
England	2012	Falmouth University	Honorary Fellow

Honorary Degrees

Location	Date of award	School	Degree	Gave Commencement Address
England	1976	University of Exeter	Doctor of Music (D.Mus)
England	1977	University of Leicester	Doctor of Music (D.Mus)
USA	1980	Westminster Choir College, Princeton	Doctor of Music (D.Mus)
England	1981	University of Bristol	Doctor of Music (D.Mus)
England	1982	University of Sussex	Doctor of Letters (D.Litt)
Canada	1985	Trinity College, Toronto	Doctor of Sacred Letters