Ronald Frost was born in Bury and educated at the town’s grammar school. He has been Director of Music at the Manchester City Centre Church of St Ann since 1978, where to date he has given more than 1,000 organ recitals. He had held a series of posts in Methodist Churches in the Bury area until his appointment as Organist of St Aidan’s, Rochdale in 1953. In 1958 he became Organist and Choirmaster of Stretford Parish Church (St Matthew’s) and served there until 1969.

He was associated with the Hallé Concerts Society from 1956-1996 as Accompanist to the Hallé Choir (1956-1972), Chorus Master (1972-1992) and Principal Organist (1976-1996).

In 1951 he was awarded the Kirtland Organ Scholarship to study with the late Harold Dawber at the Royal Manchester College of Music and in 1953 won a Lancashire County Major Scholarship and the Meadowcroft Exhibition (from the RMCM). In 2001, he retired after completing 50 years unbroken association with the Royal Manchester (now Northern) College of Music as student and tutor.

Ronald Frost is a double “Limpus” prizewinner of the Royal College of Organists (for ARCO in 1953 and FRCO in 1955) and was awarded the Royal Manchester Institution Medal for Organ performance in 1954 together with his Diploma of ARMCM (performers with Distinction) and the Percy Heywood certificate of excellence. Among his other musical qualifications and awards are numbered B. Mus. (Dunelm), FRMCM, FRCO, Hon. RSCM and Hon. FNMSM. In November 2003 he was elected Hon. FGCM in recognition of his services to Church Music. In June 2005 he received the award of FRSCM at York Minster in recognition of his services to musical education, choral training and church music. He was recently installed as Hon. Lay Canon of Manchester Cathedral.

During a long and varied professional career, Ronald Frost has done much work for television and radio. He has recently recorded six organ CDs at St Ann’s on the Dunelm Records label and is still extremely busy as a recitalist, choir trainer and composer.

Ronald was also conductor of Bury Choral Society from March 1958 until May 1959.