Chapel Music: Who’s Who?

New Director of Music

It is a privilege and delight to announce that Gabriel O’Brien has accepted an offer to serve as Director of Music at King’s beginning May 1 of this year!

Gabriel will be well known to many who read this. He is a recent graduate (BMus ’23) with a musical history at King’s that began long before he arrived as a student. He sang for many years as a chorister with Capella Regalis and served as an organist in the Chapel. As a student, he was a vital part of virtually every aspect of music at King’s. Since graduation he has served as Director of Music at two churches in York in the UK. He brings back to King’s many gifts, including a robust vision for music not only in the Chapel, but in the University more broadly and in the wider Halifax community.

Gabriel O’Brien, director of music

Gabriel O’Brien, Director of Music

Gabriel O’Brien grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, making music in and around the University of King’s College. As a child, he sang weekly Evensong services in the King’s Chapel as a chorister in Capella Regalis Men & Boys choir. In high school, he took up the organ and served as the Sunday Morning Organist in the King’s Chapel. Shortly thereafter, he became Assistant Artistic Director and Probationers’ Programme Director of Capella Regalis, with responsibility for the junior choir. Gabriel studied at King’s, where he served as Organ Scholar and later Assistant Director of the King’s Chorus. He graduated from King’s and the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in Organ and Composition.

Outside of  King’s, Gabriel held organ scholarships in Halifax at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, St George’s Round Church, and St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, and in Ottawa at Dominion Chalmers United Church.

After graduating from King’s, Gabriel moved to York, England. In York, he serves as Director of Music in two churches in the historic city centre, All Saints Pavement and St Helen’s, where he directs the parish choir and choral & organ scholars. Gabriel also works as a Duty Manager at the National Centre for Early Music and in the Visitor Experience department at York Minster Cathedral.

Phone: (902) 422-1271 ext. 141

 
King's Logo