Vacancies

Interested in joining our award-winning team? Visit our Vacancies page to find out more about our latest opportunities.

Scholarships

Choral Scholarships

Worth up to £3,500 a year, university students in Leeds, Huddersfield and York have the opportunity to sing with one of the country’s finest cathedral choirs, broadcast regularly on BBC radio and television, and gain experience in our award-winning Schools Singing Programme. For more information, visit the scholarships page.

Organ Scholarships 

Worth up to £1,500 a year, university students in Leeds have the opportunity to work with one of the country’s finest cathedral choirs with expert tuition and mentoring, invaluable contacts and regular performances. For more information, visit the scholarships page.

For more information or to apply for our scholarships, contact office@dioceseofleedsmusic.org.uk or 0113 244 8634.

Benjamin Saunders

Diocesan Director of Music

Benjamin Saunders is Director of Music for the Diocese of Leeds, carrying overall responsibility for the largest church music programme in the UK. Ben has been engaged by many external bodies as a consultant in the management and development of music programmes with particular expertise in fundraising and organisational structure, especially addressing access issues in marginalised or deprived communities. He was appointed a Director of Leeds Conservatoire in 2013 and Visiting Professor of Music at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana in 2015. 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. He has given solo organ concerts in France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Russia and the United States and records as a soloist for Brilliant Classics and Herald AV. Ben has also been a drummer in two rock bands, keyboardist in the Edinburgh International Jazz Festival and is now studying the classical accordion. From January 2021 he is leading the National Schools Singing Programme across the UK.

Thomas Leech

Director of the Schools Singing Programme

Thomas Leech enjoys a reputation as an outstanding and inspirational choral director and organist. As the Director of our internationally acclaimed Schools Singing Programme he manages one of the most innovative and successful choral programmes in the country, involving some 50 schools and over 4500 children weekly, with its choirs broadcasting regularly on BBC radio and enjoying international competition and concert success. Tom combines this with his role as Musical Director of Bradford Festival Choral Society and frequent appearances as a guest conductor and workshop leader, with recent projects as diverse as Paco Peña’s flamenco Requiem por la Tierra, Britten War Requiem Elgar Dream of Gerontius and Mahler Symphonies 2 and 8. Recording credits include the complete choral works of Duruflé and complete organ works of Arvo Pärt for Brilliant Classics and he has broadcast on BBC1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Classic FM and Radio France. His educational work has most recently been recognised by the Worshipful Company of Educators’ Masters’ Award. For more information follow him on twitter @thomas_leech.

Laura Steelyard

Assistant Director of the Schools Singing Programme

Laura has joined the Diocese as Assistant Director of the Schools Singing Programme. After graduating with a BA Hons in Music from the University of Sheffield in 2014, she previously worked for Sheffield Music Hub developing their singing programme.

Laura brings a wealth of experience in music curriculum design, in-school delivery, teacher training and choral directing to her new role. A passionate performer throughout childhood and university, Laura will work to ensure every child has access to a wide range of musical opportunities regardless of their circumstance.

Callum Tempest

Music Programme Manager

Callum Tempest grew up in Leeds and has been involved with the Diocese of Leeds Music Department since he joined the Leeds Cathedral Boys’ Choir at the age of ten. He began organ lessons three years later and was organ scholar at the Cathedral during his time in sixth form. Having attained a first-class degree in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Bristol, Callum has returned to the department as Music Programme Manager, with responsibility for the day-to-day administration of its Schools Singing Programme, Keyboard Studies Programme and fundraising strategy.

Callum is particularly excited to return as the roll-out of the National Schools Singing Programme continues. Drawing on his first-hand experience of the Leeds model, knowledge of economics and passion for technology, he hopes to facilitate the delivery of sustainable opportunities for music-making for children and young people, continuing to promote social mobility and reduce deprivation across both the Diocese and the country.

Louise Wayman

Administrator and Fundraiser

Louise Wayman grew up in Dorset and studied singing at Birmingham Conservatoire and the Wales International Academy of Voice. After a varied path through opera singing, administration, singing teaching and choral work, she has found her niche as the Administrator and Fundraiser for Diocese of Leeds Music, assisting in the day-to-day running of the programme and raising money to ensure its continuation. She now lives near Keighley with her husband and two daughters.

William Campbell

Cathedral Organist

William Campbell is Cathedral Organist at Leeds Cathedral and teaches in our Keyboard Studies Programme. Prior to joining the team, William was Organ Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral and previously held posts at St Helen’s Church, Stonegate in York and Leeds Minster, where he accompanied the choir in two BBC broadcasts. He graduated in 2023 with first-class honours in Music from the University of York.

Charlotte Woodhead

Choral Director and Curriculum Lead

Charlotte Kitson graduated in 2011 from the University of Birmingham with a First Class Honours degree in Music, and was shortly after appointed as Choral Director for Bradford in the Schools Singing Programme. She left the Music Department in 2014 to pursue a PGCE in Secondary Music at Leeds Trinity University, and then worked as a Teacher of Music and RE at St. Bede’s and St. Joseph’s Catholic College in Bradford, completing her NQT induction and Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) in July 2015. Charlotte first became involved with the Music Department when she joined the Cathedral Girls’ Choir at the age of 16, later becoming a Choral Scholar at Leeds and then at St. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham. In 2019 she completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy with the University of Wales and Voice Workshop, specialising in breathing methodology for singing.

Lizzie Leather

Choral Director

Lizzie Leather is a Choral Director with a passion for working with young musicians to inspire a love of music and to encourage them to reach their full potential and thrive in a safe, supportive environment. Lizzie has worked as a conductor and choral animateur with organisations including Hackney Choral, the Oxford Bach Choir and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Lizzie has taught music to classes of children in London and Berlin, where she also ran social singing groups for adults in the community. Lizzie co-founded Hesperos, a chamber choir in 2018, and has studied Music, Migration Policy and Choral Conducting at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham.

Roland Mander

Choral Director

Roland graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2014, where he specialised in piano performance and accompaniment, studying with Sally Anne Macleod. In 2016 Roland was awarded a Sing for Pleasure Young Conductors’ Scholarship, which has since led to a varied career as a choral director, workshop leader and accompanist. 

He is passionate about the importance of music education and has previously enjoyed working with leading providers such as Musica Kirklees and Opera North Education. Roland’s first experience of choral singing was in his school choir and he is now delighted to provide similar life-changing opportunities to school children across the Diocese of Leeds.

Daniel Rodriguez

Choral Director

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Daniel earned his Bachelor of Music and Choral Conducting degree with Order of Academic Merit from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Bogotá. Subsequently, he was awarded the College of Arts and Law Master Scholarship to study an MA in Choral conducting with Simon Halsey CBE and Julian Wilkins at the University of Birmingham. During his studies, Daniel developed his skills under internationally acclaimed choral conductors, including Anthony Trecek-King, Bob Chilcott, Daniel Hyde and Simon Carrington. He has also studied accompanying piano with professor Oxana Viritch, and voice studies with the Colombian soprano Beatriz Mora and Alison Chamberlain.

Before joining the Diocese of Leeds, Daniel has enjoyed many posts as a musical director, including as the former assistant conductor of the Children’s Cantoría under the direction of Eunice Prada Nagay; musical director of the San Bartolomé Chorus, choral director at Batuta National Foundation and musical director and main organist of the Immaculate Concepción of Chicó Parish of Bogotá.

Joseph Tilling

Choral Director

Joseph Tilling graduated from Leeds Conservatoire in 2023 with a first-class honours degree in Music, specialising in vocal performance and conducting. His passion for choral music started at the age of eight when he joined his local church choir, and, during his gap year, he held a Choral Scholarship at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral and sang with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.

Joseph discovered his passion for choral direction relatively recently, directing the University of Leeds Chamber Choir during his studies and has recently worked with the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain as a Conducting Scholar. He is delighted to be working as a Choral Director for the Diocese of Leeds and looks forward to inspiring children from all backgrounds to make music.

Amy Howe

Choral Director

Amy Howe recently graduated with a BA in Music from the University of Leeds, where she specialised in vocal performance, early music, and exploring connections in musicology and sociology. During her studies, Amy was a Choral Scholar at Leeds Cathedral and played an active role in Leeds University Union Music Society. In her second year, Amy co-managed Leeds University Chamber Choir and, in her third, conducted the unauditioned Symphonic Choir.

Amy’s musical journey began on the violin aged seven and she went on to play with many ensembles including the CBSO Youth Orchestra. She discovered her love for singing after joining the CBSO Children’s and Youth choirs and has since been involved in many exciting choral projects including the BBC Proms, European tours and concerts with a variety of renowned conductors and orchestras. Amy’s ultimate goal is to encourage young singers to love the choral scene as much as she does by providing a safe, nurturing and exciting environment in which they can thrive.

Craig Perkinton

Choral Director

Craig Perkinton studied Music at the University of York before gaining first a postgraduate qualification in Theology and then a PGCE from York St John University. After working as a classroom teacher in UK, he went on to teach music internationally.

Craig has always been involved with music, having grown up in the church and sung in choirs since the age of four. He has led several children’s and adult choirs and is an accomplished pianist and organist in both sacred and secular settings. Now returning to Yorkshire, Craig will share his knowledge and experience to ensure that any and all children receive world-class music education and performance opportunities.

Michael Burt

Choral Director

Michael Burt is a choir leader, teacher, and organist with a great passion for music education and firm belief in the power of ‘choir’ in bringing communities together and enriching the lives of all people. Michael graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA and MA in Musicology. After qualifying as a teacher at the University of Greenwich (PGCE) he then enjoyed an early career teaching music in both secondary and primary schools, at home in London and internationally in Düsseldorf.

Michael has also held many posts as a church music director and his time in Germany inspired him to take his church music career further. Michael has until recently worked in Cologne, having achieved a first-class degree in Church Music (BA) at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, and led a number of collaborative choral projects and choir tours across Germany. He is now excited to return to his homeland UK and combine his passions for music education and church music in one of the most successful music education programmes in the country.

Anthony Beckwith

Keyboard Tutor

Anna Leskelä

Keyboard Tutor

Nigel Waterhouse

Keyboard Tutor

Nina Leonard-Savićević

Piano Tutor

Nina attended St Petersburg’s Rimsky Korsakov Conservatoire and Wells Cathedral School as a scholarship student, before completing undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. She won the Birmingham Music Festival and was a finalist at the Scottish International Youth Competition.

Nina regularly performs across the UK, most notably at the 1901 Arts Club in London, St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh and the Cheltenham Music Festival. Nina is also Artistic Director of the Topsham Music Festival which launched in 2023, aiming to benefit talented young musicians and the local community by providing performance opportunities, and is a mentor for the Young Sounds’ Furthering Talent scheme.

David Pipe

Organ Tutor

Anthony Gray

Organ Tutor

Frankie Tempest

Organ Scholar