Stephen (b. 1977) is a musician, conductor, organist, composer and educator, whose work encompasses liturgical music, choral composition and music education. With a lifelong commitment to church music, he has established a strong musical presence in Canterbury and beyond, combining an extensive background in choral direction and organ performance with a particular interest in the relationship between music, liturgy and worship.
Stephen’s musical journey began in London, where he sang as a chorister before moving with his family to Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, at the age of eight. It was here that his musical interests developed through piano and organ lessons. He subsequently held the organ scholarship at St Faith’s Church, Lee-on-the-Solent, prior to entering university.
In 1995, Stephen moved to Canterbury to study Music at Canterbury Christ Church University, beginning a lasting association with the city and its rich musical heritage. During his undergraduate studies, he studied organ with David Flood, then Master of the Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral, and composition with Edward Cowie and Paul Max Edlin. He directed the University Chapel Choir, leading the music in services at Canterbury Cathedral and Tewkesbury Abbey, as well as a recording for BBC Radio 4. In his final year, he was appointed Organist and Choirmaster of St Stephen’s Church, Canterbury, where he began developing the choir and strengthening the musical provision.
Alongside his performing and directing commitments, Stephen has pursued a parallel career in music education. Following postgraduate teacher training, he began his teaching career at Gravesend Grammar School for Girls before becoming Director of Music at The Harvey Grammar School in 2006. In 2020, he was appointed Head of Performing Arts, extending his leadership responsibilities across the school’s wider performing arts provision.
Stephen has maintained a longstanding commitment to the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), serving as Chair of its Canterbury Area committee. He played an active role in organising the annual Choir Festivals at Canterbury Cathedral, contributing to the development of choral music within the local community. For the 2004 festival, he was commissioned to compose a setting of the Eucharist for performance by the combined choirs, marking an important milestone in his work as a composer of liturgical music.
While teaching full-time, Stephen returned to Canterbury Christ Church University to undertake a Master’s degree in Music, specialising in church music under the guidance of Christopher Gower, formerly Organist and Master of the Choristers at Peterborough and Portsmouth Cathedrals. During this period, he returned to lead the University Chapel Choir through a sustained period of growth, further developing its contribution to worship and exploring the close relationship between liturgical context and musical expression. His research into the use of hymns in worship subsequently informed a series of workshops, supported by performance editions of early metrical psalms and canticles.
As a conductor, Stephen has worked with visiting choirs in a number of cathedrals and abbeys across southern England, including Westminster Abbey and the cathedrals of Salisbury, Portsmouth, Chichester and Coventry, alongside regular services at Canterbury Cathedral. His international work includes two invitations to conduct at the RSCM North-West Europe Choirs Festival. Under his direction, StStephen’s Choir has also undertaken visits to Ghent, Berlin, Reims and Paris, extending the choir’s musical reach beyond the UK.
Composition remains a central and enduring part of Stephen’s musical life. His output encompasses substantial choral works alongside a broad range of shorter pieces for liturgical use. Although his teaching and musical commitments limit the time available for composition, he continues to write several works each year. His music has been performed at Westminster Abbey, Canterbury, Salisbury, Coventry and Portsmouth Cathedrals, as well as the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas.
Stephen’s compositions reflect a deep understanding of the practical and expressive demands of church music, drawing on his experience as an organist, conductor, educator and liturgical musician. Scores and recordings of many of his works are available through his website.
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