Stephen Darlington

Stephen Mark Darlington (born 21 September 1952) is a British choral director, organist and conductor who served as Director of Music at Christ Church, Oxford, from 1985 to 2018. After retiring from Christ Church, he served as interim director at St John’s College, Cambridge. His brother is the conductor Jonathan Darlington.

Education and career The choir stalls at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where Darlington was Director of Music for 33 years. After attending King's School, Worcester, Darlington was an organ scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, in the early 1970s, studying under Simon Preston. Afterwards he was appointed assistant organist at Canterbury Cathedral, where he served for four years before becoming Master of the Music for St Albans Cathedral Choir. At St Albans he also directed the International Organ Festival.

Awards and recognition Darlington was Choragus of the University of Oxford and holds a Lambeth Doctorate. He served as President of the Royal College of Organists from 2000 to 2002. He is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music, a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and an honorary canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Darlington was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to music.