Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I fell in love with music when I started playing the trumpet at the age of seven. I played in many school and county ensembles and bands with whom I was lucky enough to tour to Austria, Switzerland, and Spain, cementing my love of music making with others. It wasn’t long after taking up the trumpet that I then began playing the piano, and playing the organ followed shortly afterwards. I studied Music at Bristol University, holding the position of organ scholar for the duration of my time there. I then went on to hold the organ scholarship at Chichester Cathedral and then Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. After two glorious music and fun-filled years in Dublin, I joined Loretto School in Edinburgh as a Teacher of Music, then moving on to work as Head of Co-Curricular Music at Bradfield College before becoming Director of Music at King’s School, Rochester. I have learned so much from every school at which I’ve had the privilege to teach, working and making music alongside hundreds of musicians along the way, both colleagues and pupils: I can’t think of a more rewarding and soul enriching job! I am excited to continue my teaching journey here at Oakham School as I take up the post of Director of Music this September. I’m also looking forward to exploring a new part of the UK, moving to Oakham with my wife Harriet, also a teacher, and two children, Millie and Arthur.
What attracted you to this role?
As a teenager, I came to Oakham on an organ course 25 years ago or so and I remember that at the time, the School, its Chapel and the parish church made a huge impression on me – I had a wonderful time and those memories have stuck with me. When I saw the position of Director of Music at Oakham advertised, I was immediately drawn to the role and the possibility of applying, with memories of my first visit flooding back to me. I was already aware of the very strong musical reputation of Oakham and was excited by the idea of taking on such a large and thriving department.
Who inspires you?
In 1954, Roger Bannister ran a mile in less than four minutes: I found out about him when his story cropped up in the news in 2018 after his death. The breaking of the four-minute barrier was such a significant milestone as it shaped much of what we thought about perceived ceilings of achievement: The record for the fastest mile had not been broken for nine years previously, and so it had been assumed that the four-minute barrier was a defined limit of human possibility. Aside from music, running is something from which I take a lot of enjoyment: I can’t run a mile in less than four minutes, but I like the idea that we can challenge the glass ceilings in whichever field we exist.
Growing up, I was lucky to have had so many wonderfully inspiring instrumental teachers, most notably my first organ teacher, the Rvd Tim Marshall who also happened to be the vicar of the church I attended as a child. He was a very kind and patient teacher whose passion for organ music and particularly for Bach was a great inspiration to me. I have also had the privilege of working with some brilliant choral directors over the years, most notably Judy Martin, Ben Parry and Dan Hyde (OO) who have each taught me so much and helped shape the musician I am today. I am also always inspired by the colourful harmonies of Olivier Messiaen, the jazz-infused work of George Gershwin and the incredible rhythms and melodies of Leonard Bernstein.
What are your impressions of Oakham so far?
I’ve been to one Oakham concert in person, and I’ve watched a lot of Oakham concerts online. The musical standards here are very high and the performances are incredibly impressive. Walking around the School, I have found everyone to be friendly, welcoming and open to new ideas. I’m really looking forward to working with the pupils and making music with them. I’m also very excited about moving to a rural location and exploring the countryside of Rutland with my family.
What are your plans as Director of Music?
I would like to introduce more opportunities for contemporary music – the music that pupils are listening to – whilst maintaining and developing the classical and choral tradition, which is my passion. I want to help the pupils take more ownership over their music and bring to the fore different genres of music and opportunities for music technology. I feel that there is lots of potential at Oakham, which is extremely exciting.
Discover more about Music at Oakham and view what’s on this term in our latest Arts Calendar.
