PROFILE

OxRecs DIGITAL has been providing location recording services since the early 1980s, and producing CD recordings since 1991 following a series of demonstration cassettes for Schola Cantorum of Oxford, The Cardinall's Musick, and several Oxford University orchestras performing in the Sheldonian Theatre. Local projects have featured Oxford Girls' Choir (sponsored by Music at Oxford for ClassicFM), Oxford Bach Choir, and keyboard works played by a local recitalist on Robert Goble harpsichords, brass band, and school choirs. In 1991, a two-CD set of The Organs of Oxford was released. With much international acclaim, the recordings raised several thousand pounds for the University's fund-raising efforts as the Campaign for Oxford. OxRecs then went on to issue a four-CD set of The Organs of Cambridge, and The Organs of Eton College. The company has since diversified away from solo organ recordings, with choral, solo piano, and smaller instrumental groups. With highly complimentary reviews in Organists' Review, BBC Music Magazine, and Classic CD, broadcasts are regularly heard on the BBC, and international radio stations. The latest release Organs & Voices of Tudor England, has already been broadcast on BBC Radio3, receiving excellent reviews, and with all other titles is available online from the website or from any reputable classical recordings retailer.

Bernard Martin (Photo courtesy of DPA Microphones)
Bernard Martin began his musical career in 1962 when he won a choral scholarship to Magdalen College Choir, Oxford under Dr Bernard Rose, where he also took up playing the organ and oboe. For 17 years he was Organist and latterly Choirmaster at St Denys' Church, Stanford in the Vale responsible for approximately 20 adults and children. He is now resident at St Mary the Virgin, Buckland having responsibilities for a smaller choir and where he project-managed rebuilding their large 3-manual Holdich organ. He has previously directed deanery choirs for special services throughout the Vale of the White Horse and more recently in Christ Church Cathedral. He enjoys singing biannually with the St Hugh Singers in cathedral venues all over the country.

Bernard has recently retired from over 30 years working at Oxford University Computing Services, where he headed up a team responsible for the daily operation of the University's primary computing facilities. He had special responsibility for the typesetting service, producing staff training material, and looking after health, safety and security matters.

When not running OxRecs, he has a keen interest in Family History research, enjoys restoring and renovating furniture, and is currently project-managing a large extension to a listed cottage in Appleton, where he will be moving in 2008.