Richard Birney-Smith

Richard Birney-Smith discovered his fascination with the organ at the age of four and began working as a church musician at the age of ten.  After study with Thomas Matthews, Edna-Scotten Billings, Marcel Languetuit, and Clarence Watters,  Dr. Birney-Smith moved to Canada to become Organist & Master of the Choristers at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Saskatoon (1965-67).  Subsequent positions include Organist-Choirmaster of St. James’ Church in Dundas (1967-76), founder and Artistic Director of the Te Deum Orchestra & Singers (1968-2002), and Director of Music at Melrose United Church in Hamilton (1981-92).  He has performed more than a hundred recitals in Canada, the USA, England, Scotland, and France including St. James’ Cathedral in Toronto; Trinity Church Wall Street and St. Thomas’ Church in New York City; Queen’s College, Oxford University; and Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.  He has made numerous broadcasts for CBC Radio 1, Radio 2, and CBC-TV as well as issuing long-playing phonograph records and compact discs.