Director of Music | William Waine
William began his career in choral music at the age of 6 in the choir of his father’s Parish Church in Romford, Essex, before taking up a Choral Scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, William kicked off his conducting career as the director of the Christ Church College Choir, conducting cathedral evensongs and concerts, and leading the choir on their first ever tour. During a short time as Lay Clerk at Gloucester Cathedral, William occasionally conducted the Cathedral Choir and Youth Choir, and was the Musical Director of the City of Wolverhampton Choir, before joining Cantemus (Havant), and The Sandgate Choir (Storrington). He has conducted choirs and orchestras in a wide and varied repertoire spanning Byrd to the Beach Boys, including works by Cornysh, Gibbons, Buxtehude, Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Vaughan Williams, Chilcott, Roth, and Lennon and McCartney. He was the founding director of the Chichester Cathedral Voluntary Choir, leading the choir in regular services at the Cathedral, and works behind the scenes in the Music Department at Westminster Cathedral.
As a Choral Scholar, William sang with the world-famous Christ Church Cathedral Choir on Gramophone Award-nominated recordings, and tours to the USA and China. Since 2017, after spells in the choirs of Gloucester and Chichester Cathedrals, he has been based in London, working with various ensembles including the choirs of Westminster and St Paul’s Cathedrals and Westminster Abbey; The Erebus Ensemble; and The English Concert in a staged production of Handel’s Messiah at the Bristol Old Vic, which was broadcast in cinemas across the country. As a soloist and recitalist he has appeared across the UK; live on BBC Radio 3; and as far afield as Sydney, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand. He has taught singing to children at The Prebendal School, Chichester; Ditcham Park School, Petersfield; and Streatham and Clapham High School.
When he’s not singing or conducting, William can be found at Lord’s Cricket Ground, watching Liverpool FC, reading, or at the theatre.
To contact William please email music@christchurch-southgate.org.
Organist and Assistant Director of Music / Matthew Warbis
Matthew first began to learn the organ at Westbury-on-Trym Parish Church, Bristol, where he sang in the choir. At university, Matthew held the organ scholarship at St. John’s, Ranmoor, a large parish church in Sheffield, where he regularly accompanied the choir for services and concerts, as well as for choir tours to venues such as Exeter Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. He also held positions as the Director of Music and Colin Hand Conducting Scholar for the University of Sheffield Chamber Choir, and as the Junior Assistant Conductor for the University of Sheffield Symphony Orchestra. Since the completion of his Master’s degree in Economics in 2023, Matthew has worked as an economist for the Civil Service, where is a regular accompanist for the Civil Service Choir. He holds the Associate Diploma in organ performance for the Royal School of Music.
Previous Musicians
Richard Brain (Director of Music 2013-2024)
Kate Macpherson (Organist 2015-2024)
David Hinitt (Assistant Director of Music and Organist 2005-2020)
Harvey Brink (Director of Music 2010-2013)
David Stevens (Director of Music 2008-2010)
Alex Eadon (Director of Music 2005-2008)
Lee Dunleavy (Director of Music 2002-2005)
Christopher Dell (Director of Music 1984-2002)