His musical career began as a chorister at St Andrews, Buckland-in-Dover, and later as Head Chorister here at St Marys. He began piano lessons at the relatively late age of thirteen under the tutelage of Adrian Boynton, and organ lessons two years later. Whilst still at school he accompanied the school choir as organist on visits to York Minster, Westminster Abbey, and Canterbury, Norwich, Peterborough, Ely and Coventry Cathedrals.
He studied organ (under Christopher Bowers-Broadbent) and voice (under Jean Austin-Dobson) at the Royal Academy of Music from 1983-6. Upon graduating, he joined the Canterbury firm of Forwoods Music, and in 1993 he bought the business, which he now runs with the help of his wife Susan as a mail order operation from farm premises near Dover.
As Musical Director of DODS, he was responsible for Kiss Me Kate, Pajama Game, The Boyfriend, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs and Anything Goes. These days he lends his voice to the productions as a baritone.
In 2003, in response to many requests, he formed the Pharos Chamber Choir to explore the small choir repertoire of madrigals, partsongs and motets. Now numbering around twenty voices, Pharos has quickly established a reputation for fine music making in East Kent, and is much in demand for weddings, concerts and charitable events.
Stephen first held the post of Organist at St Marys from 1984-6 whilst a student at the Academy, ironically resigning when he moved back from London to Kent to begin working in Canterbury. He was succeeded by his former tutor, Adrian Boynton, and was eventually re-appointed when Adrian left Dover for Milton Keynes in 1989. With the advent of a family, he left the post in 1993 for a six year break during which he barely sat at an organ console, save for an occasional outing to deputise for Graham Cory, who succeeded him. Graham resigned in 1999 due to work commitments, and as Stephen's children had by this time joined the choir at St Marys, it was a natural progression for him to return to the organ stool.
So, at something over seven years, this is Stephen's longest tenure as Director of Music, during an association with the church which dates back to his arrival as an eleven-year-old treble in 1976. Stephen would be delighted to hear from any former choristers, or indeed from anyone who might be interested in joining the thriving choir at St Marys. Use the email link above to contact him.
