Stephen is a singer and teacher with over 30 years experience. He commenced his professional studies at Colchester Institute as a 1st study French horn player but changed to singing after a year, he continued as a 2nd study pianist throughout. After graduating with BA (Hons) he continued his studies as a singer for several years with some notable teachers including Judith Pearce and Andrew Field. In more recent years, he has completed further study, gaining an MMus specialising in Performance with Canterbury Christ Church University; he studied singing during this time with Justin Lavender privately at the Royal College of Music.

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He was a lay clerk in Rochester Cathedral Choir for five years and later a lay clerk at Peterborough Cathedral for nearly thirteen years singing the usual round of daily services, BBC television and Radio 3 Broadcasts, CD recordings and tours to Belgium, Paris, The Netherlands, Yorkshire and The Loire Valley eventually becoming the Senior Lay Clerk. Prior to that he sang at St. Etheldreda's, Ely Place, Holborn for three years. He currently deputises on an ad hoc basis and deputised regularly for many years with Canterbury Cathedral Choir.

 

Stephen has appeared as a solo Bass with various choral societies and orchestras; highlights have included Messiah and Faure's Requiem under Douglas Coombs.

 

Stephen has combined his singing with a full time teaching career. He has taught at Sutton Valence School, and King's School, Rochester; he has been Head of Music in three independent schools and a large comprehensive school  in Cambridgeshire. He has taught the piano, singing and class music from Nursery classes to A level. He qualified formally as a teacher  (QTS) on the GTP scheme through CfBT and Neale-Wade Community College.

 

Stephen was also Musical Director of The Roundwood Singers in Brentwood and The Marlowe Singers in Gravesend.

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Stephen has recently completed his PhD examining the grand chapel choirs of high-ranking early Tudor courtiers.

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