Director of Music
PETER SIEPMANN PhD FRCO LRSM
Peter Siepmann is a conductor, organist, teacher and examiner based in the East Midlands of the UK. He is Director of Music at Nottingham Cathedral and is well-known in the region for his encouraging, enthusiastic and informed approach to rehearsal and performance.
He was educated at St Edward’s School in Oxford and the University of Nottingham, where he was awarded a doctorate in 2010. As a conductor, Peter has directed many of the major works of the choral repertoire with choirs and orchestras of all sizes, both amateur and professional, on the concert stage and in a liturgical setting. He became conductor of Nottingham Bach Choir in September 2019, following Paul Hale’s twenty-nine year tenure. As an accompanist and continuo player (a particular passion), Peter has performed with many of the UK’s leading soloists.
Before his Cathedral appointment, Peter was Organist & Director of Music at St Peter’s Church, Nottingham for eighteen years where, alongside considerable development of the capabilities and repertoire of the church choir, he oversaw the design, fundraising and installation of a new church organ.
Alongside his work as a conductor, organist and an examiner for ABRSM, Peter works as a fundraiser for Peterborough Cathedral and sits on the grant assessment panel of the Cathedral Music Trust. This follows almost twenty years as an educator, first in the renowned department at Uppingham School and then for over a decade at Repton School as Head of Academic Music. Peter is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and a number of his organ pupils have gone on to cathedral and university scholarships. He lives in Southwell with his wife Adele and son Alexander, who is a cathedral chorister.
Cathedral Organist
TIMOTHY SELMAN BA (Hons) ARCO
Timothy Selman is a conductor, organist and musical director based in Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. He specialises in organ and choral music, working both as an accompanist and director, whilst also bringing extensive experience in musical theatre, including musicals and opera.
As the Assistant Director of Music and Cathedral Organist, here at St Barnabas Cathedral, he contributes to the musical life of the Cathedral, with particular responsibility for playing the organ and the training and development of its choristers. Alongside this, he is also the Director of Music of the Steel City Choristers, based in Sheffield; combining choral direction with a strong commitment to music education, community outreach and the development of young musicians.
He has previously held positions at Lincoln and Southwell Cathedrals, as well as at The York Oratory and St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham. He studied Music at the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2016. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists.
As an active organ recitalist, Timothy regularly performs in churches and cathedrals across the UK, presenting varied programmes which combine well-known repertoire with more unusual and occasionally quirky works. He has given recitals at Bradford, Lincoln, Newcastle and Southwell Cathedrals, as well as a number of other major churches and concert venues.
Alongside his work as a director and recitalist, Timothy is an experienced accompanist. He was accompanist to Southwell Choral Society during his time in Southwell and has worked on performances of major choral and orchestral repertoire including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Haydn’s The Creation and Verdi’s Requiem. He has also played harmonium in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and his work at Lincoln and Southwell has included performances of Fauré’s Requiem and Duruflé’s Requiem.
Timothy is also Co-Director and Organist of Caelestis, a choir based in York, and continues to work widely as a conductor, accompanist, organist and musical director.
Organist Emeritus
NEIL PAGE BA (Dunelm) FTCL LRAM ARCO
(Organist & Director of Music from 2003 –2014)
Following his initial choral experience as a choral scholar in the choirs of Durham Cathedral and Trinity College Cambridge, Neil Page studied singing as a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music. Having been Director of Music at Hurstpierpoint College and Malvern College, in 1985 he was appointed Director of Music at Uppingham School and Conductor of the 200-voice Nottingham Harmonic Society Chorus. He has conducted all the major works of the choral repertoire working with several of the principal British orchestras including the RPO, RLPO, CBSO, Halle and BBC Concert Orchestra.
He was Director of Music at St Barnabas Cathedral from 2003 – 2014, overseeing the introduction and development of the choral scholarship scheme. He has been a diploma and grade examiner for the ABRSM for over 30 years in which capacity he has toured throughout Africa and South East Asia. He is Honorary Choral Adviser to the Hong Kong Children’s Choir. In recognition of his work with youth and adult choirs he has been awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship.