I am a Head of Music and a Conductor based in South Oxfordshire.
Conductor
I am very privileged to direct and conduct Didcot Choral Society. The repertoire is wide ranging, from choral classics to contemporary songs. My philosophy as director is to be inclusive, informative, and to build on the joy that people share in music. I keep all programme notes here. I also take commissions on writing programme notes, so please get in touch ahead of your own concert.
Education
As Head of Music at St. Birinus School, an all-boys state comprehensive, I lead the music curriculum and coordinate the extra-curriculum music provision. I am passionate about pedagogy that makes music accessible to boys, especially around the vocal change.
I believe that music plays a vital part in the all-boys education – giving boys the the skills they need to ennact the positive values of masculunity in the twenty-first century. Singing is a core part of my music curriculum, as boys begin to navigate the voice change, and using the voice can help boys avoid those sometimes awkward moments with ‘Voice cracks’. Alongside the curriculum, I lead a diverse enrichment of the curriculum through music groups and ensembles. I arrange music for boy’s changing voices and for School Ukulele groups, which can be found here. I hope that other educators can find these resources useful!
About
I began my musical training as a Chorister at Derby Cathedral. After obtaining a degree in Music at the University of York, I pursued a Masters Degree in historically informed performance, during which I gave recitals on English Baroque composers, the Cantatas of J.S. Bach, and composers of Early Lieder. I began conducting choral music with the University of York Choir, leading sectional rehearsals. I also enjoy editing early music and German Lieder, and a few of my editions are available on this website.