Frank Woolley (b. 1949, Lincolnshire) was a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral from 1959–64. On leaving Lincoln School he studied Botany & Zoology at Liverpool University. It was a field trip to the Marine Biological Station, Port Erin that first brought him to the Isle of Man, where he subsequently settled and married a Manx girl.
Despite an abiding interest in the natural sciences, music exerted a strong pull from an early age and he never wished to be anything other than a musician. He worked in various occupations before fulfilling this ambition.
Initially self-taught on the piano, he had his first formal lesson at the age of 31 when he had the good fortune to be taken on as a pupil by Eleanor Shimmin. She guided him to pass the practical part of the LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College of Music). At the same time he studied the history, theory and teaching aspects with Alan Pickard.
He has been teaching privately for more than 35 years (theory and practical). Many of his students have gone on to have careers as performers and teachers.
Frank has been composing music since about the age of 12. His formal commissions have included:
He has arranged traditional tunes for Culture Vannin publications, contributing to Celebration & Contemplation, Manx Traditional and Original Music for Church Organ. Two of these pieces, Haste to the Wedding and Prelude – Manx Fishermen’s Evening Hymn, were premiered at the Cathedral, Peel by Dr Peter Litman.
Celebration March for brass band was commissioned for the 150th anniversary of Ramsey Commissioners. Frank had the honour of playing this same march in an arrangement for organ at the end of the Tynwald church service in 2017, and it has since become a regular feature.
He is the regular accompanist for the Ramsey Choral and has been an official accompanist for the Manx Music Festival since 1994.