Overview...

I am a conductor and composer specialising in choral and sacred music. I regularly direct four choirs in the Midlands of differing genres and abilities. My background includes holding several cathedral appointments, including organ and choral scholarships, a music and liturgy administrator post, and two assistant cathedral organist positions. I am currently completing a PhD in choral composition with Professor Paul Mealor at the University of Aberdeen, having been awarded a Carlaw-Ogston scholarship. I also hold a wealth of other academic qualifications in composition, organ performance, conducting, and the history and practice of church music and liturgy.

Background...

My work as a conductor is informed and strengthened by the many years I spent as an organist and accompanist. I spent several years working with a principal church choir in Nottingham city centre before moving to Nottingham's Roman Catholic Cathedral as Assistant Director of Music. Here, I was the principal organist for the cathedral choir, schola cantorum (university choral scholars) and diocesan choir. I also played with the Nottingham Chamber ensemble saraBande, playing continuo in early music, as well as harmonium, organ and celesta in chamber arrangements of works including Mahler's Fourth Symphony and Das lied von der Erde, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an exhibition. 

​Following this, I moved to take up the position of assistant organist at at mid-Wales cathedral, as well as assistant organist at a public school, organist of the town's parish church and assistant director of the local choral society. Here, I was principal organist and accompanist of the various institutions, working with the cathedral choir and adult consort, alongside the school chapel choir and other groups, and accompanying concerts, services, examinations and tours. I also taught music theory and piano. Upon returning to Nottingham, I spent three years as the accompanist for a chamber choir, and I have given solo organ and harpsichord recitals in cathedrals and major parish churches around the UK. I have also taken part in recordings, broadcasts and a royal visit, and have accompanied rehearsals (and served as assistant director) for works including Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, Verdi's Requiem, and Jenkins' The Armed Man. My teachers have included David Briggs, Colin Walsh and John Keys.

Conductor...

​I started conducting whilst still at school. Whilst reading music at the University of Wales, Bangor, I was appointed as the Musical Director of the University Music Society Choir and Orchestra, as well as the deputy conductor of the University Concert Band. Following graduation, I directed the a chamber choir and served as a guest conductor for the Nottingham chamber ensemble saraBande. My work as an organist and accompanist has always involved working as a conductor as well, either taking rehearsals or sectional rehearsals for the choirs I was involved with. I was the director of the Cathedral Youth Choir at Nottingham RC Cathedral during my time there, and regularly worked with the cathedral choir and Schola Cantorum (university choral scholars).

Upon returning to Nottingham in 2014, I decided to re-focus my career towards conducting rather than being an organist and accompanist. I now direct a choral society, chamber choir, ladies' choir and male voice choir. ​Recent repertoire conducted includes Mendelssohn's Elijah with two other choirs and a local orchestra alongside professional soloists, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Bach's Magnificat and Tippet's Five spirituals. As part of my work with my choral society, I work with the University of Nottingham to give suitable vocal students the opportunity to pad out their CVs by singing solo parts with the choir, and also bring together groups of local musicians to accompany their concerts. These are both successful schemes and show that the choir take the educational clauses in their charter seriously. 

I regularly lead come and sing / choral days and other events. These have included come and try us mornings, a two-yearly come and sing Messiah evening as well as an annual finding your voice course for male voice choir.

Composer, arranger and orchestrator...

I am primarily a composer of  choral and sacred music. I studied composition, orchestration and arranging during my undergraduate degree, and decided to take this field of study further at the University of Aberdeen where I undertook postgraduate study and am now finishing my doctorate. I spent two years as composer-in-residence to a greater parish church with a full musical setup, and my compositions have been used by choirs around the UK and further afield. I self-publish an number of works on this site, including original compositions and arrangements, and some pieces are also published by Chichester Music Press and others. 

I describe my compositional style as "modern monastic" - meaning that some of the techniques that I use would be familiar to those singing chant and improvising polyphony several centuries ago. My style is highly influenced by plainsong, Gregorian Chant and other types of liturgical chant, alongside ancient composers such as Hildegard von Bingen, and contemporary writers including John Tavener, James MacMillian, Gabriel Jackson, and Arvo Part, to name a few. 

Apart from composing, I also create arrangements for my choirs, including a number of works for male voice choir. I also create editions of orchestral parts for concerts that I conduct, as well as editions of pieces for my chamber choir. In addition, I regularly receive commissions and requests for arrangements and orchestrations.​

Areas of expertise...

• Conducting, choir training and choral directing.
• Choral music and sacred music.
• Plainsong and Gregorian Chant.
• Church music, history and liturgy.
• Composing, arranging and orchestrating.

Education and qualifications...

I am currently studying for:

• PhD - Doctor of Philosophy in Music Composition - The University of Aberdeen - studying with Professor Paul Mealor, having been awarded a University Carlaw-Ogston scholarship.

​I hold two degrees:

• MMus - Master of Music in composition by research - The University of Aberdeen - I was the inaugural recipient of this new qualification. 
• BMus(Hons) - Bachelor of Music with honours - The University of Wales, Bangor.

I also hold a variety of diplomas:

• FBS - The Fellowship of the Burgon Society - a non-musical qualification. This was awarded to me for original research into the origins of academic dress at the University of Bristol.

• FGCM - The Fellowship of the Guild of Church Musicians - a rarely-awarded modular qualification examined at postgraduate level. This covers the history and practice of church music and liturgy, alongside practical skills in composition, arranging and organ performance.
• LTCL - The Licentiateship of Trinity College, London - awarded with distinction in the field of organ performance.
• LRSM - The Licentiateship of the Royal Schools of Music - awarded in the field of choral conducting.
• ALCM  - The Associateship of London College of Music - awarded with merit in the field of composition.
• ARCO - The Associateship of the Royal College of Organists 
• DipMusComp - The Diploma of the Independent Contemporary Music Awards - awarded with upper distinction in the fields of composition and arranging.

Contact me...