John Young - Musical Director
John was born and educated in Wellington and moved back to the area after a career in music teaching which has taken him around the country. He read music at the University of Durham where he was Organ Scholar of Hatfield Choir and Director of the University Chamber Choir. His first teaching job was at Loretto School where he was also accompanist of the Scottish Chamber Choir, playing for the first performance of James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados. He left Scotland to become Director of Music at St. George’s School, Windsor Castle, combining this with the post of Director of Chapel Music at Lower Chapel, Eton College. From there, he moved to be Director of Music at the Cathedral Schools in Bristol and Chichester, and at Gresham’s Prep School in Norfolk. He began his organ studies with David Horwood at Wellington School where he taught piano and organ. He is now college organist at King’s College Taunton.
Moving back to Wellington also presented the opportunity of becoming organist at St. John’s Parish Church where he had sung as a choirboy and also been assistant organist. Since his days as a choirboy, John has lived and loved choral and organ music. He has worked with a wide variety of choirs over the years and these have included a choir at St Margaret’s Hospice and “Funday Fridays” at Reminiscence Learning in Wellington. The joy of performing choral music in its liturgical context is very important to him and he now relishes the opportunity to advance this cause working with In Ecclesia, a choir he has known and loved since returning to his roots.
Moving back to Wellington also presented the opportunity of becoming organist at St. John’s Parish Church where he had sung as a choirboy and also been assistant organist. Since his days as a choirboy, John has lived and loved choral and organ music. He has worked with a wide variety of choirs over the years and these have included a choir at St Margaret’s Hospice and “Funday Fridays” at Reminiscence Learning in Wellington. The joy of performing choral music in its liturgical context is very important to him and he now relishes the opportunity to advance this cause working with In Ecclesia, a choir he has known and loved since returning to his roots.
Simon Forrester - OrganistSimon studied the organ at the Royal School of Church Music with Michael Fleming. He studied music at the University of Exeter where he sang in the Cathedral Choir and later joined the Choir of Truro Cathedral. He has been musical director of a number of choirs in the South West of England. He plays the organ at St. Michael’s Church, Milverton and is regularly the much appreciated accompanist for In Ecclesia at diverse venues.
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