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The Choir of Westminster Cathedral & Simon Johnson
Biography The Choir of Westminster Cathedral & Simon Johnson
Simon Johnson
is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation, successfully combining life as a virtuoso organist with extensive work in choral direction, composition and arrangement.
In September 2021 he became Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, responsible for its world-famous choir. For 13 years he was the Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, and was involved in all the national occasions that took place there, including the funeral service of Baroness Thatcher, the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen and Her Majesty's 90th Birthday celebrations, for which he also arranged some of the music.
Recitals have taken him all over Europe and the USA, as well as to many of the premier venues in the UK, including the Royal Festival Hall in 2017. He has performed with groups such as the LSO, RPO, and The Sixteen and worked with Wes Anderson on the Oscar, Bafta and Grammy award-winning soundtrack for The Grand Budapest Hotel.
As a director he became well-known through his work with the St Albans Abbey Girls' Choir. He has led the St Paul's choirs in many full-scale orchestral performances.
His compositions have been published by OUP and Peters Editions.
Peter Stevens
has been directing the Schola Cantorum at the Edington Festival since 2013, and before that was Festival Organist for three years. He was formerly Organ Scholar at Westminster Cathedral, and was appointed their Assistant Master of Music in January 2011. In addition to working with the Cathedral Choir, he organises and gives many of the Cathedral’s organ recitals.
Peter was born in Bury, Lancashire, in 1987. He spent his sixth form years at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, where in his final year he also held the Junior Organ Scholarship at Manchester Cathedral. On leaving school, he spent a year as Organ Scholar at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he played for services at which members of the Royal Family were present, including the service to mark HM The Queen’s 80th birthday.
Peter spent four years as Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, accompanying the famous Chapel Choir in their daily services, broadcasts and recordings, as well as studying for BA and MusB degrees. He played three times for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast live on Christmas Eve to a worldwide audience of millions. His organ teachers have included Thomas Trotter, Colin Walsh and David Briggs.
