Born in Armagh in 1866, Charles Wood was one of the most influential composers and teachers of his generation. A chorister and later organist at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, he went on to study at the Royal College of Music before becoming Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge.

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Wood's music combines exceptional craftsmanship with warmth, lyricism and emotional depth. Today he is best known for his contributions to Anglican church music, including beloved works such as Hail, Gladdening Light, This Joyful Eastertide and the Collegium Regale Evening Service. Beyond his compositions, his influence extended through generations of students, including many of the leading British composers of the twentieth century.

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Although some of his finest music remained unpublished at the time of his death in 1926, his reputation has continued to grow. One hundred years later, his music is performed and celebrated throughout the world, and his legacy lives on through the Charles Wood Festival in his native city of Armagh.