Andrew Gant

Last updated

Andrew John Gant (born 6 August 1963) [1] is a British composer, singer, author, teacher and Liberal Democrat politician. He was organist, choirmaster and composer at Her Majesty's Chapel Royal from 2000 to 2013, and has published several books on musical subjects. [2]

Contents

Gant serves as a Liberal Democrat Councillor on both Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. He was the party's parliamentary candidate for The Cotswolds constituency at the 2017 general election and for the Staffordshire Moorlands constituency at the 2019 general election. In 2022 he was elected to the Cabinet of Oxfordshire County Council with the Highways Management portfolio.

Education

Gant attended Radley College before going on to read music and English at St John's College, Cambridge. He was a choral scholar and sang in the college choir under George Guest. He subsequently studied composition with Paul Patterson at the Royal Academy of Music and completed his PhD at Goldsmiths College, University of London. [2]

Musical career

Gant is Stipendiary Lecturer in Music at St Peter's College, Oxford, [2] and held the same position at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, until 2014. In his early career he sang tenor with most of the United Kingdom's leading choirs and vocal ensembles, including The Sixteen, the Monteverdi Choir, the Cambridge Singers, the Tallis Scholars, and the six-man vocal sextet The Light Blues, with whom he toured and performed in the US, Africa, Israel and across Europe. He has held posts as a church musician at Westminster Abbey, Selwyn College, Cambridge, the Royal Military Chapel (the Guards' Chapel) and Worcester College, Oxford. In September 2000 he was appointed Organist, Choirmaster and Composer at Her Majesty's Chapels Royal and held the post until August 2013. [2] He led the Chapel Royal choir at, among many other events, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the Golden Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral in 2002, the Diamond Jubiliee service in 2012 (also at St Paul's Cathedral), the tenth anniversary service for the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, the annual Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph and the annual Royal Maundy service, in addition to the regular services held in the chapels of St James's Palace and Kensington Palace. The annual tradition of Christmas carols performed for the royal household in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace and broadcast on Classic FM began during his tenure.

His compositions include church music, solo works for singers including the late James Bowman, "The Vision of Piers Plowman", an oratorio for the 2002 Three Choirs Festival, "A British Symphony", premiered by the Philharmonia in 2007, "May we borrow your husband?" an a cappella opera, "Don't go down the Elephant after midnight", an opera for soprano Patricia Rozario, works for choir including the Christmas carols "What Child is This?" and "The Blessed Son of God", and arrangements such as "Still, Still, Still". His opera for young people, "Tod!", based on the life and work of Beatrix Potter, was commissioned by Cromarty Youth Opera and premiered by them, conducted by Edward Caswell, in August 2018.

Writing career

Gant has appeared at literary festivals across the United Kingdom and further afield, as well as on national television and radio. His association with Profile Books began in 2013 and he is the author of several books on music:

"Deck The Hall", investigating more traditional Christmas Carols, was published by Hodder Faith in October 2023.

Political career

At the May 2014 Oxford City Council election, Gant was elected as Liberal Democrat councillor for the Summertown ward. [5] He was re-elected at the May 2016 election [6] and took over as leader of the Lib Dem group and leader of the opposition. [7] He has served on a number of council committees, including as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee from May 2016 to May 2021. He also chaired the Scrutiny Panel of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership, a body comprising councillors from all six councils within Oxfordshire. He stood unsuccessfully for the parliamentary constituency of The Cotswolds at the 2017 general election. [8] In December 2019 he was his party's candidate for the Staffordshire Moorlands constituency in the general election. In May 2021 he was re-elected to Oxford City Council for Cutteslowe and Sunnymead, a new ward following boundary changes, and was elected to Oxfordshire County Council to represent Wolvercote and Summertown division. [9] [10] In May 2022 he was elected to the Cabinet of the County Council, becoming Cabinet Member for Highways Management. At the same time he stood down as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Oxford City Council.

In 2023, freedom of information requests revealed the County Council had knowingly withheld unfavourable traffic modelling results, showing projected increases in traffic of up to 62% on parts of Woodstock Road, prior to consulting the public on Traffic Filters. [11] The decision to install Traffic Filters led the Conservative leader of the opposition, Eddie Reeves, to accuse the council of a 'cover up' after the hidden modelling data was uncovered along with an email commitment to the Department of Transport the spring prior to consultation that the filters would go ahead. [12] [13]

Cllr Reeves called for Gant to resign in June 2023 after a Council report assessing the impact of the East Oxford ‘low traffic neighbourhood’ (LTN) policy, found the LTN could cause delays of up to 45 seconds to ambulances responding to Category 1 (life-threatening) emergency calls. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stow-on-the-Wold</span> English market town in Gloucestershire

Stow-on-the-Wold is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, on top of an 800-foot hill at the junction of main roads through the Cotswolds, including the Fosse Way (A429), which is of Roman origin. The town was founded by Norman lords to absorb trade from the roads converging there. Fairs have been held by royal charter since 1330; a horse fair is still held on the edge of town nearest to Oddington in May and October each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nine Lessons and Carols</span> Traditional Christmas service of Christian worship

Nine Lessons and Carols, also known as the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols and Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, is a service of Christian worship traditionally celebrated on or near Christmas Eve in England. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings or lessons from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols, hymns and choir anthems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witney</span> English town in West Oxfordshire

Witney is a market town on the River Windrush in West Oxfordshire in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is 12 miles (19 km) west of Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotswold District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Cotswold is a local government district in Gloucestershire, England. It is named after the wider Cotswolds region and range of hills. The council is based in the district's largest town of Cirencester. The district also includes the towns of Chipping Campden, Fairford, Lechlade, Moreton-in-Marsh, Northleach, Stow-on-the-Wold and Tetbury, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Smith (British politician)</span> British politician

Andrew David Smith is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford East from 1987 until 2017. He served in the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 1999 to 2002 and then as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2002 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoffrey Clifton-Brown</span> British Conservative politician

Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for The Cotswolds since the 1992 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford East (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1983

Oxford East is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament by Anneliese Dodds of the Labour Party, who also serves as party chair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

North Wiltshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 1997 by James Gray, a Conservative. In the period 1832–1983, this was an alternative name for Chippenham or the Northern Division of Wiltshire and as Chippenham dates to the original countrywide Parliament, the Model Parliament, this period is covered in more detail in that article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witney (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1983

Witney is a county constituency in Oxfordshire represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 2016 by Robert Courts of the Conservative Party. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election, and was created for the 1983 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northleach</span> Market town in England

Northleach is a market town and former civil parish, now in parish Northleach with Eastington, in the Cotswold district, in Gloucestershire, England. The town is in the valley of the River Leach in the Cotswolds, about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Cirencester and 11 miles (18 km) east-southeast of Cheltenham. The 2011 Census recorded the parish's population as 1,854, the same as Northleach built-up-area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Once in Royal David's City</span> Christmas carol

Once in Royal David's City is a Christmas carol originally written as a poem by Cecil Frances Alexander. The carol was first published in 1848 in her hymnbook Hymns for Little Children. A year later, the English organist Henry Gauntlett discovered the poem and set it to music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Nethsingha</span> English conductor and organist (born 1968)

Andrew Mark Nethsingha, FRCO, ARCM is an English choral conductor and organist, the son of the late Lucian Nethsingha, also a cathedral organist. He was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey in London in 2023, having previous held similar positions at St John's College, Cambridge, Gloucester Cathedral and Truro Cathedral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah MacDonald (musician)</span> Canadian-born organist and conductor

Sarah Elizabeth Arwen MacDonald is a Canadian-born organist, conductor, and composer, living in the United Kingdom, and currently holds the positions of Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Director of the girl choristers at Ely Cathedral. She has been at Selwyn since 1999, and is the first woman to hold such a post in an Oxbridge Chapel. In 2018 MacDonald was given the honorary award of Associate of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Hoare</span> British politician (born 1969)

Simon James Hoare is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Dorset since May 2015. He has served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government since November 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2012 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2014 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 22 May 2014 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 West Oxfordshire District Council election</span>

The 2015 West Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 22 May 2015 to elect members of West Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Sanders (politician)</span> American-British politician of the Green Party

Lawrence Sanders is an American-British academic, social worker, politician, and former Health and Social Care Spokesperson of the Green Party of England and Wales. He is the older brother of Bernie Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont, and two-time U.S. presidential candidate.

On 20 October 2016, a by-election was held in the UK parliamentary constituency of Witney. It took place on the same day as the Batley and Spen by-election. They were the fifth and sixth by-elections of the 56th UK Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Oxford City Council election</span>

The 2018 Oxford City Council election took place on 3 May 2018, to elect 24 of the 48 members of Oxford City Council in England. This was on the same day as other local elections in England. Each of Oxford's 24 wards elected one councillor, with the other seat in each ward next due for election in May 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "Gant, Andrew John" . Who's Who . A & C Black. 2019. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U43512.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. 1 2 3 4 St Peter’s College, University of Oxford: Dr. Andrew Gant. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ↑ “Christmas Carols by Andrew Gant review – surprising stories of how seasonal songs came to be”, The Guardian (17 December 2014)]. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ↑ “O Sing Unto the Lord by Andrew Gant review – drunken organists and rebellious priests”, The Guardian (4 November 2015)]. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Election of city councillors for the wards of Oxford City Council: summary of results" (PDF). Oxford: the Returning Officer. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Election of city councillors for the wards of [sic]: summary of results" (PDF). Oxford: Elections Office. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Oliver, Matt (10 May 2016). "Lib Dems elect Andrew Gant as new group leader on Oxford City Council". Oxford Mail . Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Tabor, Andrew. "Declaration of result of poll: UK parliamentary election, The Cotswolds constituency, Thursday 8 June 2017" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "Declaration of result of Parliamentary election 8 June 2017" (PDF). Cirencester: the Acting Returning Officer. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Merrifield, Ryan (25 May 2016). "Lib Dem Cotswold parliamentary hopeful Andrew Gant promises to be 'realistic and practical' if elected". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Oxford Traffic filters: Major details hidden from public". Oxford: the Oxford Mail. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Oxford traffic filters: Council accused of 'cover up'". Oxford: the Oxford Mail. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Council chiefs 'covered up' data that could put climate zones 'into jeopardy'". The Telegraph. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "LTN impact report leads to growing calls for resignations". Oxford: the Oxford Mail. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
Cultural offices
Preceded by Organist, Composer and Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal
2000–2013		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.