The Music Department
Our small team of staff includes musicians who have made outstanding individual contributions to the great English tradition of cathedral music, and enjoy an international reputation.
Andrew Lumsden, Director of Music
Andrew has been Organist and Director of Music of Winchester Cathedral Choir since 2002. He is also the Director of Music for the Waynflete Singers, a one of England’s premier amateur choirs, which performs regularly in Winchester Cathedral. He trained at Winchester College, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and St John’s College, Cambridge, before becoming Assistant Organist at Southwark Cathedral. He then became Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey, later joining Lichfield Cathedral as Organist and Master of the Choristers. Read more
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George Castle, Assistant Director of Music
George has been Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral since September 2012. He directs Cathedral’s Chamber Choir and Nave Choir and is rehearsal pianist for the Waynflete Singers. He was a chorister at Durham Cathedral and subsequently a pupil at Bedford School. After a year as Organ Scholar at Worcester Cathedral, he read for a degree in Music at Trinity College, Oxford, holding the organ scholarships at both Trinity and Worcester colleges. On completing his university studies he returned to Worcester Cathedral as Sub-Assistant Organist. Read more
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Jonathan Hope, Organ Scholar
Jonathan Hope is Organ Scholar of Winchester Cathedral 2012-2013. He studied initially with Stephen Lacey, John Belcher and David Sanger, before studying at the Royal College of Music, London with Margaret Phillips and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin. Before coming to Winchester, Jonathan was Organ Scholar of Southwark Cathedral from 2010 to 2012, where his duties involved accompanying and directing the cathedral choirs in the daily services, and serving as Acting Sub-Organist & Director of the Girls’ Choir in his final term. Read more
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Reverend Canon Michael St John-Channell, Precentor and Sacrist
Michael has been Precentor and Sacrist at Winchester Cathedral since 2006, with overall responsibility for all aspects of the Cathedral’s sung worship. He also oversees and supports the work of its virgers, servers, sidesmen, concert stewards, bell ringers and flower arrangers. He is strongly committed to upholding our great tradition of English choral music. Read more
Contact Canon Michael
Emma Law, Liturgy Administrator and PA to the Canon Precentor
Emma has been the Music Department’s secretary since 2008. Working to the Canon Precentor, she is the first point of call for anyone who wants to arrange a special service within the Cathedral. Before joining the Cathedral, she worked in a wide range of administrative roles including photography, hospitality, sales and charity fundraising.
Email Emma, or call her on 01962 857212
Sue Armstrong, Choirs Administrator
Sue has been working for the Cathedral since 1993, and is responsible for the Cathedral Choir’s day-to-day administration, including organising tours, concerts and recordings. She is in regular communication with the choristers’ parents and handles arrangements for the Visiting Choirs that sing services when the Cathedral Choir is on holiday.
Email Sue, or call her on 01962 857219