Paul Hayward

www.paulhayward.org

Musical Director
Composer | Orchestrator | Arranger

Biography

PAUL HAYWARD is a musical director, composer, orchestrator and arranger based in the Midlands. Following a successful career in church and cathedral music, where he held organ and choral scholarships, two assistant cathedral organist positions and a similar post at a public school, Paul moved away from full-time church music to concentrate on other things. His expertise includes sacred and choral music as a conductor and composer, and the history and practice of church liturgy. He is equally skilled in the field of musical theatre and other lighter forms of music, including orchestration and arranging. Paul is also experienced in leading workshops and choral days, which he does regularly for a number of choirs, using his own works, other well-known repertoire, and pieces that should be better known!

Paul is currently a part-time composition student at the University of Aberdeen, where he has been awarded a Carlaw-Ogston scholarship to study with Royal Wedding composer Professor Paul Mealor, along with Professor Phillip Cooke. This follows the award of a Master of Music degree in composition from Aberdeen, where Paul helped to pioneer a new distance-learning programme for composers. Paul is also studying orchestration and arranging with Broadway legend Larry Blank, adding another aspect to his musical expertise. Paul's other academic qualifications include a BMus(Hons) degree from the University of Wales, and number of diplomas in conducting, composing, arranging, performing, and the rarely-awarded Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians for studies into church music and liturgy. 

Paul's educational background is surprisingly broad, learning jazz and musical theatre alongside classical genres, which means that his areas of expertise are perhaps more varied than might be expected. Whilst an assistant cathedral organist, Paul played for concerts, services, broadcasts, recordings, and a royal visit, and gave solo recitals around the UK. As a choir accompanist, he has helped prepare groups for a variety of repertoire including Verdi's Requiem and Elgar's Dream of Gerontius. He has also worked in the field of chamber music, playing keyboard instruments in early music, orchestral repertoire, and for chamber arrangements of larger works including Mussorgsky's Pictures at an exhibition and Mahler's Fourth Symphony. ​Paul has also played in several musical theatre productions, often with additional duties as a MD, assistant MD or rehearsal pianist, including productions of Les Miserables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Bugsy Malone and Oliver!

​As a conductor, Paul has held MD and assistant MD positions for a number of choirs of different sizes, genres and abilities, as well as instrumental ensembles, including choral societies, chamber choirs, church choirs and male voice choirs. Previous classical works conducted include Mendelssohn's Elijah, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Bach's Magnificat, all with orchestras and soloists. His works as a composer, orchestrator and arranger have been performed around the UK and further afield, including during a two-year composer-in-residence position at a greater parish church. One of his works, Bring us, O Lord God was included in the Royal School of Church Music's list of recommended anthems to mark the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. Paul's music is gradually being published by Chichester Music Press. A list of published works is found here.

Current work

Paul's career covers different genres. He is well established as an expert in choral music both as a conductor and composer, but also works as a Musical Director, orchestrator and arranger for other specialisms including musical theatre. He is currently the musical director for three choirs in the Midlands and is associated with several others. This means that his weekly musical repertoire spans from early choral music to songs from the shows, masses and madrigals to pop and folk, and just about everything in between. All of this is approached with the same eye-for-detail, expertise and enthusiasm. This runs alongside freelance work and studies at Aberdeen and in other places, all working around family life with a four-year-old son. 

What I can do for you

I am a versatile, experienced and qualified musician with interests in different areas. These include classical, choral, musical theatre and other lighter genres. Contact me about any of the services below:
  • Musical Director | Conducting | Choir Training - I can conduct a concert, lead a rehearsal or deliver a workshop. These can be for a one-off occasion or as part of a longer-term project. This also includes non-classical music and musical theatre.
  • Composing | Arranging | Orchestrating - I can arrange a piece of music for your choir or instrumental ensemble, or write a completely new one.
  • Typesetting | Copyist - I can take sheet music and present it in a legible, printed format using music software, sent to you either digitally or printed. I can also produce parts for instrumental ensembles to play from. I use a variety of programmes for this, chiefly Sibelius Ultimate Edition.
  • Piano | Keyboards - I am available to play a variety of keyboard instruments, including for music theatre. I own a full musical theatre keyboard setup including Apple Mainstage 3, and can do my own keyboard programming. This can also include duties as a rehearsal pianist, assistant MD, MD or chorus master.

List of qualifications

MMus - Master of Music in composition by research - University of Aberdeen.
BMus(Hons) - Bachelor of Music with honours - University of Wales, Bangor.
FBS - Fellow - The Burgon Society. (Research area: Academic dress of the University of Bristol)
FGCM - Fellow by examination - The Guild of Church Musicians.
LRSM - Licentiate in choral direction - The Royal Schools of Music.
LTCL - Licentiate in organ performance with distinction - Trinity College, London. 
ALCM - Associate in composition with merit- London College of Music.
ARCO - Associate - The Royal College of Organists.
DipMusComp - Diploma in composing and arranging with upper distinction - The Independent Contemporary Music Awards. 

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Website contents (C) Paul Hayward 2022. All rights reserved.
Last update: 17 September 2022