Personality Profile: Oliver Bailey-Green
Educated at St Peter’s and then Oaklands Secondary School in Waterlooville, Portsmouth-born Oliver James Bailey-Green, who took the names Patrick and Cecilia at Confirmation, had realised at an early age that he wanted to be a musician: ‘Well, I suppose that makes me the Music Man from down your way’.
Graduating in 2008 from Chichester University, having specialised in keyboard instruments (‘Mainly the organ’), Oliver recalls his most embarrassing musical moment: ‘I was playing during Mass when suddenly the blowers gave out on me. The whole organ just died. Fortunately there was a piano the other side of the nave. As I hurried across, with as much dignity as panic would allow, the congregation practically choked as everyone tried to hold on to the last note I’d given them.’
The eldest of four brothers (‘I’m the only serious musician out of the bunch’), Oliver, who recently gave his first international recital (Leipzig), likes all kinds of music including opera (‘I’m really as catholic in my musical tastes as I am Catholic in my faith’). He recently completed a course in musical theatre: composing for dance is another of his interests, as is dancing itself … especially the tango.
Oliver, who is sub-organist at the Cathedral, is studying for an MA in Choral Music. Topics include conducting and the history of Church choral music. More music, maestro, please!