About
Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel pay annual subscriptions for the maintenance of the Chapel and the Book of Remembrance. The Committee assists with the upkeep of the Chapel and maintains the website of the Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel and the on-line Register of musicians inscribed within the Book of Remembrance.
The Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel take an active part in maintaining and promoting interest in the Chapel. Each year, usually in May, a Commemoration Service is held in St Sepulchre’s Church for the lives and work of the musicians whose names are in the Book of Remembrance. Conservatoire and university choirs provide the music for these services.
If you would like to join the Friends of the Musicans’ Chapel and / or have a musician’s name inscribed in the Book of Remembrance, please contact us.
Patron
Dame Felicity Lott, DBE, FRAM, FRCM
Chairman
Mr Andrew Morris
Organist and Conductor. Former Director of Music at St Bartholomew-the-Great, Smithfield and Bedford School. Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Secretary
Mrs Rita Castle
Joined the Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel in 2007 upon retiring after 20 years working at the Royal Academy of Music as Administrator. She is not a musician. Rita started work at 17 as a junior shorthand typist at the Royal College of Nursing. She has honed her organisational skills over the years working for numerous diverse companies – events planning, architects, engineers, fashion and film editing. Rita is also Chairman of the Friends of Bushey Museum.
Treasurer
Professor Mark Wildman
Professor of Singing Royal Academy of Music 1981 and subsequently Head of Vocal Studies Royal Academy of Music 1991-2017; Currently Henry Cummings Distinguished Professor of Singing, Royal Academy of Music; Professor in the University of London; Tutor in Vocal and Opera Studies at Royal Northern College of Music.
Committee
Mr Peter Cook Former Director of Junior Department London College of Music, Organist of St Mark’s Surbiton, Fellow of Independent Society of Musicians.
Miss Gill Cracknell Chamber pianist, recitalist and piano accompanist. She is deeply committed to working with young musicians and teaches piano and performance practice at various colleges and schools. She is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and collaborates with the team for the Musicians’ Chapel Book of Remembrance.
Mrs Philippa Dutton, MVO Studied Singing and Violin at the Royal College of Music; experienced arts administrator as PA/Assistant to Directors of RCM, Royal Opera House, ENO, National Theatre and Glyndebourne. Keen choral singer, Liveryman Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Mr Paul Gobey Organist: ex RCM and Pembroke College Cambridge graduate, Paul taught at various London schools regularly taking choirs to sing Evensong at Cathedrals or on European tours. Director of Music at the Norwegian Church in London since 1990; active Liveryman with Worshipful Company of Musicians. Examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trustee of the Royal College of Organists and Chairman of Anglo-Norse Society, (Patrons King Charles III and King Harald V) promoting educational and cultural exchange between UK and Norway.
Mr Tim Jones has sung in choirs since the age of seven, first as a chorister at St John’s College Cambridge and then as choral scholar under George Guest. After a spell as a lay clerk in Worcester Cathedral Choir he spent 34 years as Vicar Choral in St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, while combining a freelance singing career with teaching singing and as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He has sung with The Sixteen since 1988 travelling the world, recording extensively and playing a significant part in the establishment of Genesis Sixteen as a much vaunted training scheme for young singers about to embark on their careers.
Mr Jonathan Kingston Organist and Music Director, formerly Director of Music, King’s School, Ely. Examiner, Trainer and Reviewer for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music; Liveryman of Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Mr Richard Lyne Choral Conductor and Editor; Former Professor Royal College of Music and Hon. General Editor Church Music Society. Founder and Director of the Howells Singers.
Mrs Cecilia McDowall Composer, former teacher at Trinity College of Music and the Yehudi Menuhin School. Recipient of the Charles Santley Award (The Musicians Company), the British Composer Award (Choral), the Ivor Novello Award (Gift) and the Royal College of Organists RCO Medal.
Mr Christopher Ridley Timpanist with the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Professor of Timpany at the Royal Academy of Music. Chris works with Emmaus charity putting on concerts to raise money for the Homeless.
Mr Martyn Williams Retired College lecturer, Organist and Examiner. Former Treasurer of Friends of the Musicians Chapel.
The Rev. Nick Mottershead Rector, Holy Sepulchre London (Ex officio)
Mr Peter Asprey Director of Music, Holy Sepulchre London (Ex officio)
Partners
We gratefully acknowledge the assistance we receive with our work from the Royal Society of Musicians.
Our website is hosted by 34sp.com through their free hosting for UK Charities scheme. We are very grateful for their support.
Charity Registration
The Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel is a UK Registered Charity, Charity Number: 1121324
