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Director of Music and his team

DIRECTOR of MUSIC - STEVEN MARTIN was born in London in 1981 and first became interested in music as a boy chorister at St George’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Southwark. His family moved to Sussex in 1991 and there he attended Thomas Peacocke Comprehensive School, Rye. When he and his parents moved to Devon in 1997 Steven went on to Exeter College and then to read music at the University of Exeter. After gaining his MA there, he decided to continue studies at Exeter; a course of action cut short when the Music Department there was closed. He is currently a postgraduate (PhD) student at the University of Bristol, specialising in late nineteenth/early twentieth-century English opera. The focus of his research is the issue of funding for opera during that time, looking closely at the ways and means by which operas by English composers reached the stage. His other research interests include the music of Cyril Scott, Percy Grainger, Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Bruce Montgomery (otherwise known as the novelist ‘Edmund Crispin’).

Before his appointment as Director of Music at Crediton, Steven was Director of Music at St Michael and All Angels, Mount Dinham, Exeter, which he combined with his duties as a Bass Choral Scholar at Exeter Cathedral. Since 2004 Steven has directed the Exeter University Choral Society. Before that, he conducted the Exeter University Singers. His organ teachers have included Ron Downs, Dr Lorna Cowdry and Paul Morgan. Steven was awarded his LRSM in organ performance in 2003. He has given numerous organ recitals in and around Devon and Dorset, as well as Fulda, (Germany) and Paris. He has held organ scholarships at Exeter University Chapel and at Holy Cross, Crediton, where he later became Assistant Organist. During his time at Holy Cross, Steven accompanied the choir on numerous visits to cathedrals in England and abroad, and for broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 and Radio Devon. He has also served as President of the Exeter & District Organists’ Association, a predecessor of which was founded by another Crediton organist, Cyril Church, c.1922.

Steven is not at all athletic, and has no pets. In his spare time he likes to panic. For what may be mistaken for recreation, he is often to be found tinkering haphazardly (he knows nothing whatsoever about cars) with his utterly beautiful but often ailing Morris Minor, Beryl (b. 1968).

Finally, if you want to join the choir, contact the Director of Music.

KATE MACPHERSON - ASSISTANT ORGANIST

Kate was born in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in 1988, and has been interested in
music for many years. After starting the piano when she was 5, and the flute
when she 9, she sped through the respective grades, culminating in Grade 8
in both instruments in June 2006. During her A-levels Kate started learning
the organ, and has never looked back since! She has been taught by Philip
Speirs and latterly Paul Morgan, of Exeter Cathedral, with whom she obtained
Grade 8 Organ at a merit of 128 marks; this after only three years of
playing.

In September 2007 Kate was appointed as Organ Scholar at Holy Cross, and by
the summer of the following year she was promoted to Assistant Organist,
thus taking responsibility for much of the organ playing within the church.
She is also a Senior Organ Scholar of the University of Exeter, and
accompanies many recitals within the university and surrounding area. Kate
also teaches the piano and flute to school-age children.

Though much of her time is spent at the organ bench, Kate is reading Law at
the University of Exeter, and is currently studying for her finals. She is
hoping to complete an LLM Masters degree in International Human Rights Law
after her undergraduate years, and specialise in the area of Human Rights
from a religious and humanitarian perspective.

In her spare time Kate is a keen sportswoman, running in local half
marathons, and is also partial to a rather competitive game of tennis!

ORGAN SCHOLAR - TOM SALMON began learning the organ with Trevor Webb at St Nicholas Church, Otham, Kent where Tom first began occasionally accompanying the choir at Eucharist services. Tom also covered occasional duties at Otham’s sister church, St Mary’s Langley, before Tom came to Exeter in September 2001 to do a Theology degree. Tom achieved Grade 8 organ in June 2004, and has more recently achieved a DipABRSM in Organ Music Performance in July 2007. Tom is currently taught by Paul Morgan, the Organist at Exeter Cathedral, and Tom has occasionally accompanied the Exeter Cathedral Voluntary Choir at the Sunday 5.00pm Evening service. Tom also occasionally plays for the Family Eucharist service at St Mark’s Church, Exeter.

Tom has also achieved Grade 8 on Flute and Recorder, also Grade 5 on Electronic Keyboard. Tom has been a member of a number of ensembles through Kent Music School. During his time at Exeter University, Tom sang bass on the Exeter University Chapel Choir. Tom currently sings bass on the Exeter Philharmonic Choir which he joined in January 2008. Tom currently works at Exeter Cathedral as Secretary to Canon Carl Turner (Canon Precentor) and Andrew Millington (Director of Music) in the Department of Liturgy and Music.
In his spare time, Tom enjoys Yoga, and walking, particularly along stretches of the South West Coast Path.

Choir Links

Steve Martin - Director of Music