Richard Cock - South African conductor and passionate musician

Cock was born in Port Elizabeth in 1949 and was educated at Woodridge College in the Eastern Cape, and Diocesan College and the South African College of Music in Cape Town. He was awarded a scholarship to the Royal School of Church Music in 1972.CareerHe was an alto lay vicar at Chichester Cathedral before becoming Assistant Organist in 1978. As was customary for the cathedral's assistant organist, he was also Director of Music at Prebendal School, the cathedral choir school. He also established the Chichester Cathedral Choristers' Association (CCCA).South AfricaCock returned to South Africa in 1980. Since then he has been a producer working for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa (1991-1999), Director of Music of St Mary's Cathedral, Johannesburg and the current Artistic Director of the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra. He is also acclaimed as South Africa's 'first professional countertenor'.