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Staff

Benjamin Saunders – Diocesan Director of Music

Benjamin Saunders – Diocesan Director of Music

Benjamin Saunders was organ scholar of Downing College, Cambridge and sub-organist at the cathedrals of St Giles’ Edinburgh and Blackburn before becoming Assistant Director of Music at Chester Cathedral in 1998. Since 2002 he has been Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds, carrying overall responsibility for the choral programme. Benjamin has been engaged many other organisations as a consultant in the resourcing, management and development of cathedral music departments. As an organist, he has performed to HM the Queen, Princess Anne and US President Carter and worked with conductor Carl Davis and jazz virtuoso Dick Hyman. His website has details of forthcoming solo organ concerts.




Christopher McElroy – Assistant Diocesan Director of Music

Christopher McElroy – Assistant Diocesan Director of Music

Christopher McElroy is the Assistant Director of Music for the Diocese and Director of the Schools Singing Programme.  He read music at Huddersfield and Liverpool Universities and was organ scholar at Wakefield and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedrals. Prior to taking up his present position here in West Yorkshire, Chris spent four years living, working and studying on the east coast of the USA.  Alongside his music accomplishments, Chris is also studying for a PhD in theology.  As an organist and conductor, Chris broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio, he appears on several CD's and has performed recitals and concerts at venues in the UK, Europe and the USA.




Christopher Johns – Choral Director

Christopher Johns – Choral Director

Dr Christopher Johns was head chorister at Derby Cathedral and choral scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge, before taking up the position of Assistant Choirmaster at Osnabrück Cathedral. He also studied at the Robert Schumann College of Music in Düsseldorf and moved to Leeds in 2006 after three years of doctoral research at Durham University, where he was cathedral organ scholar and conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra. As Choral Director, Chris directs the Bradford Boys' Choir and is responsible for the singing curriculum in the Bradford primary schools. He remains active as an orchestral conductor (currently of Tees Valley Youth Orchestra) and was recently appointed Assistant Chorus Master of Leeds Philharmonic Society. When time permits, he enjoys occasional engagements as a baritone soloist.




Keith Roberts – Choral Director

Keith Roberts – Choral Director
Keith Roberts was born in Kent and was a chorister at Westminster Cathedral and a choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge.  His musical experience since has been diverse. He sings countertenor, and has been a member of many of London's top choirs, as well as being an experienced consort and solo singer.  Keith has been musical director of the Allegri Singers and the Stondon Singers, as well as a jazz choir and close harmony groups.  He is in demand as a composer and arranger, and has found his music performed at the Three Choirs Festival, Westminster Abbey, on BBC Radio 3 and several countries abroad.  He is also an experienced singing teacher, having recently taught the choristers at Southwell Minster and the Temple Church.



Sally Egan – Choral Director

Sally Egan – Choral Director

Sally Egan was born in Leeds and educated at Notre Dame High School.  She read music at Cambridge University and studied singing in Paris with Maria-Grazia Dilluvio and in London with Lillian Watson.  She has sung opera and oratorio all over the world under the baton of many leading conductors including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Harding, William Christie and Pierre Boulez.  Sally also specialises in training treble voices.  Prior to her appointment in Leeds, she worked as a vocal coach with the choristers of Westminster Cathedral and taught singing to the choristers of Westminster Abbey.




Julie Tanner – Assistant Cathedral Organist

Julie Tanner – Assistant Cathedral Organist

Julie Tanner graduated from Leeds University in Music and English, later gaining a Master's degree at Hull University. She is a Fellow of the Trinity College of Music, London and an Associate of the Royal College of Organists. She has been a member of the Cathedral music staff since 1990 and combines this with her full-time position as Head Teacher at Wakefield Tutorial Preparatory School.




Claudine Tat – Music Department Administrator

Claudine Tat – Music Department Administrator

Claudine Tat was born and educated in Paris before moving to England. She is married with three children. Claudine worked as a PA to the Senior Partner of a firm of Management Consultants whilst in Leeds before moving to various parts of the country with her husband. She eventually returned to Yorkshire and, after bringing up her family, has since worked for the Director of Music at the Cathedral. She can be contacted regarding auditions, external concert bookings, CD sales, appointments and all general enquiries via the music office between 10.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Thursday during term time.




Daniel Rathbone – Senior Organ Scholar

Daniel Rathbone – Senior Organ Scholar

Daniel Rathbone studied organ at the University of Huddersfield with Graham Cummings, before embarking on his M.Mus. in composition. He combines his Cathedral duties with those as accompanist to the Bradford Boys' Choir and organist at St. Patrick's Church, Huddersfield. Daniel was formerly a chorister at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.




Jonathon Nicholls – Junior Organ Scholar

Jonathon Nicholls – Junior Organ Scholar

Jonathon Nicholls, a native of the West Midlands, is a former pupil of Aylestone School and Hereford Sixth Form College. He has studied the organ with Peter Dyke through the Diocese of Hereford Organists' Training Scheme since 2006, supported by St Mary's Church, Marden, where he was the organist. Since September 2007, he has been organ scholar at St Laurence's Church, Ludlow. Having achieved a pass with distinction last term at Grade 8, Jonathon has recently accepted a place to read Music at the University of Huddersfield, where he starts in autumn 2008.




Choral Conducting Scholar

Vacant



More Events »

Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts


To join the choirs and for all other
enquiries please contact:

Mrs Claudine Tat
Music Administrator
Leeds Cathedral
Great George Street
Leeds LS2 8BE

Tel: 0113 244 8634
Email: click here