Music Staff at St Chads

David Leeke has been Organist and Director of Music here at St Chad’s since 2006. As well as being responsible for the church choirs he also directs Darwin Voices (the church’s concert chamber choir) and is Artistic Director of St Chad’s annual festival in May. Since David arrived at St Chad’s, the church has appeared on national TV and radio on many occasions. David has also initiated the rebuild of the organ.

In addition to his work here at St Chad’s, David is also Conductor of Shrewsbury Cantata Choir and the Redbury Singers. He is a senior examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for whom he travels throughout this country and overseas as a grade and diploma examiner. He also chairs the RSCM Committee for the Diocese of Lichfield.

Before returning to his native Shrewsbury, and following study at the Royal College of Music, David spent over twenty years in Kent as an organist and a schoolmaster. He was Organist of Folkestone Parish Church from 1979-1990 where he maintained the cathedral musical tradition of the church and subsequently as Director of Music at Maidstone Grammar School (Britain’s largest grammar school). Several of his former pupils are now pursuing active musical careers.

Richard Walker, Assistant Director of Music, joined the St Chad’s team in 2007; he accompanies most of the major services, organises the 45 weekly Friday lunch-hour concerts each year and gives recitals, including the complete organ works of J.S.Bach in 2010, Messiaen’s La Nativité and Dupré’s Le Chemin de la Croix.

Richard studied organ with David Willcocks, gaining both ARCO and FRCO diplomas in the same year, and both with prizes. His career has been largely in teaching, first at The Edinburgh Academy, and then as Director of Music at Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College Edinburgh (1975 – 80), The Leys School Cambridge (1980 – 85), and Harrow School (1985 – 2005). He was also Assistant Organist at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh and subsequently Organist at St John’s, Princes Street, Edinburgh. He has given recitals all over the UK, and also in Germany and the USA.

Kathryn Burningham grew up in Surrey and was educated at Sutton High School GDST and Oxford University where she was Organ Scholar of Merton College and gained a first-class degree in music. She also holds diplomas from the Associated Board and the Royal College of Organists. Kathryn is a busy freelance musician and her professional portfolio includes teaching, examining, accompanying, working on the music team at St Chad’s Shrewsbury and being Director of Music at University College Oxford. In this role Kathryn oversees the chapel music at University College, coaches the organ and choral scholars, teaches modules of the undergraduate music course and interviews for undergraduate Music places across the University.

List of Organists and Directors of Music

For information on all matters musical at St Chad’s, please contact the Organist and Director of Music,

David Leeke
Tel 01743 289301
1 St Chad’s Terrace
Shrewsbury SY1 1JL
Email – davidleeke@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com

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Page last updated Friday, February 17, 2012