He is an organist and orchestral conductor born in
Bromley, England, with his brother Nicholas also being a conductor.His musical education began at
Worcester College before moving to St. John's College, Cambridge, as an
organ student.After
graduating he took on the position of organist in Northampton as well as
being the Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral and Sub Organist at
Westminster Abbey.He joined the
faculty at King's College, Cambridge, in 1982 as the Organist and Director
of Music and in 1983 he coupled that position with becoming Conductor of
the Cambridge University Musical Society's orchestra and chorus.In his career with them, which
spans over 25 years, he has made many recordings in a wide repertoire of
music and led many of their concerts, including the yearly Festival of Nine
Lessons and Carols that has been broadcast throughout the world.He has been responsible for the
commissioning of numerous works from contemporary composers that
include John
Rutter, Arvo Part, John
Tavener
, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Richard
Rodney Bennett among many others.Moving away from King's College he has his own solo career which he
runs alongside and in this he has toured internationally as an organist and
guest conductor and as a teacher he has conducted workshops and
masterclasses in cities such as Dallas and Chicago. He has also been the
Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers since 1995 and has appeared at several
music festivals with them.
