Philip Duffy
Philip Edward Duffy KSG, GRSM, ARMCM, PGCE, Hon FGCM, FHEA, FRSCM (born 1943) was the Master of the Music at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral from 1966 to 1996, and lectured at Liverpool Hope University from 2000 to 2013.
Career
Philip Duffy graduated from the Royal Manchester College of Music before receiving his Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of London. In 1966, he was appointed as the Master of the Music at the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, succeeding Christopher Symons, who was the first musical director at the Cathedral. As it happens, Philip Duffy's elder brother, Terence, was appointed alongside him as the Cathedral Organist.
Following this appointment he taught music at Runnymede, the preparatory school for St. Edward's College, Liverpool which was also the dedicated school for the Cathedral Choir.
The newly built Cathedral was consecrated in 1967 (prior to this, the Crypt had been used for services), and Duffy was instrumental in the successful establishment of a musical tradition in the new building. Under his direction, the Cathedral Choir developed a strong reputation, making several recordings and tours, and broadcasting regularly on BBC Television and Radio. Of particular note was the celebration of Mass by Pope John Paul II in the Cathedral in 1982 which was broadcast to a worldwide audience. In 1996 he retired as Master of the Music, after 30 years of service.
He began lecturing part-time at Liverpool Hope University in 1999, and has been a full-time lecturer there since 2000. Following 4 years as course leader for the BA Creative & Performing Arts, Music, Music Technology, Popular Music Studies, he was appointed to the role as Director of Performance for the university. Although he has retired from teaching at the university, Duffy still directs the chamber choir of that institution.[1]
Duffy was appointed Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II for services to Church Music in 1981.
Other activities
Duffy is noted as a composer of music for the liturgy, including communion services, gospel acclamations and responses, much of which was originally composed for regular use in the liturgy of the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. His compositions often combine rich choral harmonies and include participation of the congregation (and the occasional archbishop). His works are still recorded and broadcast, most recently at the midnight Mass from the Cathedral to the UK audience at Christmas 2006.
He is a former producer, presenter and considered opinion on Classical Music for Liverpool's Radio City. In the 1970s and '80s he presented 'Concert Hall', a two-hour, Sunday evening programme of classical music.
Philip Duffy is a regular singer with various ensembles, including the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge under the direction of Mary Berry.
He has recently founded, and directs, Liverpool Bach Collective, an ensemble of eight singers and about ten instrumentalists, which performs Bach Cantatas regularly at Sunday Evensong in churches around Liverpool.