Born in Haarlem, Holland in 1979, he was educated in the UK, becoming Organ Student of St John’s College Cambridge, studying organ with Nicolas Kynaston.

He graduated with double first-class honours and subsequently spent two years as Organ Scholar of Westminster Cathedral before moving to Gloucester in 2002 where he is Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral. He is also Musical Director of the St Cecilia Singers, and accompanist to the Gloucester Choral Society and the Three Choirs Festival Chorus. Recent solo engagements have included recitals at St Paul’s, Westminster, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Bristol, and Manchester Cathedrals, Birmingham, and appearances in France, Italy, Holland and the Konzerthaus Berlin.

He has appeared as a soloist with the Philharmonia, the BBC Philharmonic and the Orchestra of the Paris Conservatoire. He has recorded for the Hyperion, Naxos and Regent labels and has improvised live on BBC radio, on CD and at the Royal Festival Hall.

Robert Houssart was a prizewinner at the RCO Performer of the Year 2002 and at the EADS Saarbruecken Improvisation Competition in March 2003. He won First Prize in Improvisation at the St Alban’s International Organ Competition in July 2003.

His work as conductor of the St Cecilia Singers has included works by Britten, Tippett and includes collaboration with English Touring Opera, the Gloucester Three Choirs Festival and the Regency Sinfonia.