Biography

George Chittenden is Domkantor I at Bodø Cathedral in Norway, where he plays the organ for services and concerts, directs Bodø Domkor and Ungdomskoret, and has overall responsibility for the music at the cathedral.

Located in the north of Norway, Bodø is a vibrant city undergoing huge growth in all areas, and surrounded by spectacular Arctic nature. The city, which is scheduled to be the European Capital of Culture in 2024, features the striking, modern cathedral at its core - as a centre for liturgy, music and culture in Northern Norway. The cathedral is home to seven choirs, a song school, and a world-class Eule organ.

Prior to beginning his position in Bodø in September 2021, George was Organist at S:ta Maria kyrka (St Mary's Church), Helsingborg, Sweden: a basilica-sized church built in the Danish Gothic style, dating from the 14th Century, which included Bach's illustrious teacher, Diderik Buxtehude, amongst its former organists.

Before returning to Europe in 2016, George was Director of Music and Cathedral Organist at St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, New Zealand, alongside which he was the Fleming Galway Organ Fellow to Knox College at the University of Otago, Music Director of the Southern Youth Choir, and held a teaching position at The University of Otago. Prior moving to New Zealand, George was employed as Artist-in-Residence/Assistant Organist at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford in the USA, and Organist to the Anglican Singers.

Before departing Europe and heading to New England in 2010, George held the post of Assistant Organist to the Cathedral Church of St Andrew in Aberdeen, Scotland, alongside positions at the the University of Aberdeen. At the university, George accompanied the majority of services during his time as David Gordon Memorial Senior Organ Scholar, and featured numerous times on BBC broadcasts, both local and international.

George is both an Associate of the Royal College of Organists and highly active as international concert organist. He is furthermore currently pursuing part-time doctoral studies, concentrating on the way in which the Nazi occupation in Scandinavia impacted upon developments within classical composition. He is active as a composer of both sacred music and avant-garde works.

Notably, George has been taught by David Flood, Anne Marsden-Thomas, Gerard Brooks, Roger Williams, Nigel Allcoat, Francis Jacob and Ewald Kooimann and, most recently, Peter Stoltzfus Berton.

Away from a hectic musical schedule, George is a keen traveller, a food fanatic (particularly that of Asian origin), a committed fan of football, rugby, Formula One and other sports. He is also a historian, an occasional poker player and a fan of good wheat beers.