Our Volunteers

Jonathan studied piano and organ at the Royal College of Music and went on to read music at Oxford University where he was the organ scholar at Balliol College. He subsequently embarked on a career in finance, working over a 35+ year career in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and London.

Appointed to the Board of Trustees of Cathedral Music Trust in 2020, Jonathan has treasured the opportunity to be actively involved once more in the world of music. He is a passionate advocate for the wide-ranging benefits of music education. Responsible, along with his fellow board members, for the Trust’s performance, strategy and policy, Jonathan is an energetic ambassador for the Trust as it seeks to sustain and develop the UK’s proud heritage of excellence in cathedral music – a tradition which is admired and followed by millions of people across the world

Giverny is a charities lawyer with Russell-Cooke LLP, having trained at an international city firm. While studying Music and Law at the University of Cambridge, where she sang with the chapel choirs of Sidney Sussex and Trinity colleges, Giverny co-founded Sing Inside, a charity that brings collaborative singing workshops into UK prisons, and remains their Head of Policy.  She was previously a non-executive director of the Stay At Home Choir, a global community of 25,000+ people from 80+ countries united by a love of singing, and herself sings freelance with a number of consorts and choirs. Based between London and Vienna, Giverny’s travel plans centre mainly around ticking off Europe’s 100 Best Cathedrals (as ranked by Simon Jenkins in his most recent book).

Gavin recently retired after a long career in asset management at Schroders, but remains a Senior Advisor to the firm and sits on two boards in financial services. Gavin’s love of cathedral music started in the late 1970s whilst studying for a Classics degree at University College, Oxford, but blossomed much later thanks to a nine-year term as a non-executive Chapter member at St Paul’s Cathedral. He remains closely associated with St Paul’s in a number of formal roles as well as a worshipper.

He is now Canon Treasurer at Peterborough Cathedral and a churchwarden of St Lawrence Jewry in the City of London.  Away from church music, he is a half-marathon runner, a lover of opera, and is proud of his London garden.

Isobel is currently Chair of the Trust’s Programmes Committee and brings to the role many years of experience working as a management consultant with clients in the public and not-for-profit sectors, with a particular focus on strategy and governance. As a school governor, she sees at first hand the difficulties of securing a decent music education for young people. Isobel is also Chair of a small grant-giving charity.

Isobel’s love for cathedral music stems from her time as an undergraduate at Oxford University, where she sang for four years in her chapel choir. At the time, Isobel and her contemporaries particularly welcomed the free sherry and dinner in Hall provided after each service. With hindsight, it was a real privilege to sing a wide repertoire of cathedral music in such a beautiful setting. Isobel has enjoyed singing ever since, when her day job as a management consultant and her moonlighting as a Roman archaeologist permit.

James is a communications professional with over 30 years’ campaigning public affairs and stakeholder engagement experience. With a background in regional media, retail, broadcasting and mobile telecoms, he has worked in-house for Three Mobile, where he set up the public affairs function in the UK, Brussels and Ireland.

James has run award-winning campaigns around alcohol duty, animal welfare and terrorism reinsurance. His client experience includes British Business Bank, Channel 4 TV, Airbus, RSPCA, Speedo, RYA, NATO, Stansted Airport and the Department of Trust. With 12 years’ service as a local councillor James chaired a planning authority for 4 years. A senior Liberal Democrat, he has been the Chair of one European and two General Election campaigns for them. He was made OBE for services to politics in 2015.

Renowned for his fine musicianship, David is widely respected as both a choral and orchestral conductor. Current roles include Musical Director of The Bach Choir, Associate Guest Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum. He was formerly Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge, and Master of the Music at Winchester and Westminster cathedrals. David boasts an impressive discography of recordings, and has been a recipient of both Grammy and Gramophone awards. His commitment to new music has led to premieres of works by leading composers including Judith Bingham OBE, Bob Chilcott, Sir James MacMillan, Sir John Tavener and Jonathan Dove. In 2018, David was honoured with the prestigious Royal College of Organists medal, in recognition of distinguished achievement in choral conducting and organ playing, and in 2019 he was awarded an MBE for services to music.

Stuart had a first career in the British Foreign Service, serving in Saudi Arabia, Brussels, Prague and Cairo, and as High Commissioner in Brunei, Ambassador in Muscat, and Ambassador in Kuwait. He was then Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge for ten years, and now researches, writes and lectures on Arab and East African history. He co-authored a book on Omani-British history, Unshook Till the End of Time, and published a biography of Tippu Tip, the 19th century Arab-African ivory trader. He plays the piano, organ and oboe, has sung in several chamber choirs, and as a keyboard player enjoys chamber music and works for four hands. Stuart intends to contribute to the Trust’s Development strategy and to expansion of the corps of donors and benefactors.

Heather is a Tribunal Judge, having worked for many years in various parts of the criminal justice system, including the Parole Board. She has worshipped at Exeter Cathedral since she was a student at Exeter University, where she read English. The first lay member of Exeter Cathedral Chapter, she has served in many roles for both the Cathedral and the Diocese, as well as being a school governor for the Northbrook Community Trust.

Heather is married to Paul Morgan, Organist Emeritus of the Cathedral. In her spare time, when not working in the garden, she watches Exeter Chiefs and Somerset CCC.

James was installed as Canon Precentor at Exeter Cathedral in 2018. Following a career as a freelance musician, he studied Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Cambridge and trained for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge. After participating in an exchange programme at Yale Divinity School, he was ordained in 2005 and served his title at the Church of St Peter Mancroft, Norwich. From 2008, he was Assistant Priest at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square in London, before becoming Rector of East Barnet in North London in 2012 and Area Dean of Barnet in 2015. He has a degree in Music from the University of Exeter and a degree in Systematic Theology from King’s College London.

Simon, a renowned music educator and choral conductor, trained as a chorister at Exeter Cathedral and was Organ Scholar at University College, Oxford. For 24 years, he directed Tiffin Boys’ Choir, preparing them for 270+ operatic performances at the Royal Opera House and collaborations with leading conductors. As Director of Music at All Saints’ Church, Kingston, he broadcast on BBC1, Radio 4, and World Service. Since 2015, as Executive Director of Music at the David Ross Education Trust, he has developed a programme for 14,500+ children in 34 schools. He serves on national music panels, founded the Music Teachers Association, and directs the Northampton Bach Choir.

Daniel began his career as a rocket scientist before spending nearly 30 years as a management consultant, specialising in financial services. Now retired, he holds various NED and advisory roles, with a focus on technology and digital strategy. A lifelong musician, Daniel plays clarinet and piano and sings in several choirs, including Winchester Cathedral Chamber Choir, the Vasari Singers, and the Waynflete Singers. Daniel has also served as a trustee for several musical charities, including the London Mozart Players and The Grange Festival.

Graham began his musical journey as a chorister at Coventry Cathedral and continued his love of music at St John’s College, Oxford. Whilst studying Classics, Graham sang in the chapel choir and participated in numerous ensembles as a singer and violinist. A Chartered Accountant by day, Graham also currently serves as a deputy lay clerk at Coventry Cathedral.