Raymond Sunderland FRCO (21 December 1921 – 25 December 1977) was an English organist and composer.
Raymond G Sunderland started learning organ at age 12 and until 16 he studied with his father, the organist of Broadstone Baptist Church, Yorkshire.
During the Second World War he served in the Royal Armoured Corps and in 1944–45, whilst serving in Belgium, he gave a series of organ recitals from memory in Ypres Cathedral. After the war, he studied with Shackleton Pollard at Halifax Parish Church and served there as Assistant Organist. In 1951 he gained his FRCO and was appointed organist and choirmaster at Burnley Parish Church in Lancashire; whilst there he became also organist to the Halifax Choral Society. In 1955 he moved to St. Edmunds Church, Roundhay, Leeds, before being appointed in 1957 to his final post as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Bridlington Priory Church.[1] Raymond Sunderland's "abilities as a performer, and not least as an improviser of immense talent, were widely acclaimed."[2]
Raymond Sunderland died in the early hours of Christmas morning 1977 in Bridlington Priory having just played the organ for the Midnight Communion; he is buried in the Priory churchyard.
On the Vista label is a recording "The Organ of Bridlington Priory" (VPS1006), dating from October 1972, made by Raymond Sunderland himself on the, then recently restored, Priory organ. The recording includes works by Karg-Elert, Healy Willan and a rare performance of Garth Edmundson's three movement Apostolic Symphony as well as the "Bridal Fanfare and March" written for the wedding of one of his own daughters. The content of this LP was re-released in 2003 as part of a CD "Bridlington Priory Organ" (BP 001) with additional tracks by the current Priory organist, Michael Smith, including Sunderland's "Ceremonial Fanfare and March".