Gordon Cree
Template:BLP sources Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Gordon Charles Cree BMus FGMS (born 14 July 1977, Ayrshire) is a Scottish musician who also performs as a singer, light entertainer and actor.[1]
Early life and education
Gordon Cree was born and brought up in a working class home in Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. After being educated at local primary and secondary schools, and at the unusually young age of 16, he was admitted as an undergraduate student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow where he graduated Bachelor of Music in 1998, aged 20. Following his formal education he was mentored in piano versatility and musical direction with Peggy O'Keefe, studied orchestral scoring and arranging with Brian Fahey and organ with Professor George McPhee at Paisley Abbey.[2]
Career
He has earned his living exclusively from music for his whole adult life, and has performed at a very high professional level as a singer, pianist, organist, arranger, orchestrator, composer, conductor and light entertainer.
He was the musical director for many seasons at the famous Gaiety Theatre, Ayr and has been personal accompanist and musical director to several well-known artistes, most prolifically Moira Anderson and Anita Harris. He worked for a time in the USA with legendary opera star, Marilyn Horne and has played prolifically for touring operas.
He was, for some years, a popular fixture - both alone and with his trio - at Gleneagles Hotel for Sunday lunch, special functions and during the festive season.
He has been a regular conductor for the Scottish concerts mounted by Raymond Gubbay International.
He is currently the organist and director of music of St. Andrew's West Parish Church (formerly Renfield St. Stephens), which is one of the largest and most imposing churches in Glasgow's City Centre, almost directly opposite his old stomping ground at the King's Theatre.
As of 2025, he is one of the team of resident organists (headed by Phil Kelsall MBE) at the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, playing both the legendary mighty Wurlitzer organ, as well as its digital counterpart, for ballroom dancing throughout the year. He is thought to be the first Scot on the Tower organ team since the Tower's opening in 1894.
Composer
Cree has published many works, most of them short and very light in nature.
- Selected Orchestral WorksTemplate:Colon
- Capri Suite
- Angela (tribute to Angela Morley)
- Concertino (for organ and string orchestra)
- Champagne Flutes
- Fiddlers Free
- Havanaise (for violin and orchestra)
- Petite Marche Cérémoniale
- Suite for Strings
- Nocturne (for cello and orchestra)
- The Bognor Bugler's Return (for trumpet and orchestra)
- The Bognor Bugler's Farewell (for trumpet and orchestra)
- Shades of Heather (for tuned percussion and orchestra)
- Rhona Og Mhaiseach (miniature in the style of a Gaelic air for solo harp and strings)
- Benquhat (march for brass band)
- The Blue Angel (rhumba for orchestra)
- La Torre Salón de Baile (The Tower Ballroom Rhumba) (rhumba for orchestra)
- Solo Organ WorksTemplate:Colon
- Prelude
- Meditation
- Aria
- Trumpet Tune
- Toccata on Adeste Fideles
- For Solo GuitarTemplate:Colon
- Pequeña Melodia
- Popular MusicTemplate:Colon
- Scotland, My Song Forever (song)
Personal life
He has been in a relationship with operatic and concert mezzo-soprano, Cheryl Forbes, since 2007. They have been married since 2012.
Charity work
He is well known for his support of various charity through his performance and endorsement. He has been active for many years on behalf of the Scottish Showbusiness Benevolent Fund (and Template:As of is its president[3]), The Grand Order of Water Rats, he formerly sat on the Master Court of the Trades House of Glasgow[4] and is an Executive Founding Trustee of the Ayrshire (East) Foodbank which he established alongside his wife, Cheryl Forbes.
He was also the co-founder and organiser of a large-scale annual musical event which has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Scottish charities, including the Ayrshire Hospice, C.H.A.S., Combat Stress, Sight-Savers, Erskine Hospital and Food for Africa.
A freemason, he is a member of Chelsea Lodge No. 3098, the membership of which is made up of entertainers, and into which he was initiated at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London.
References
External links
- Official Website
- Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- ↑ Darvel entertainer Gordon Cree to appear as guest at Scottish Cinema Organ Trust Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Template:Dead link
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- Pages with script errors
- 1977 births
- Alumni of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Living people
- People from Irvine, North Ayrshire
- Scottish classical composers
- British male classical composers
- Scottish classical pianists
- British male classical pianists
- Scottish conductors (music)
- British male conductors (music)
- 21st-century Scottish male singers
- British male pianists
- 21st-century British conductors (music)
- 21st-century classical pianists
- People from Darvel