Director of Music | Richard Brain
Richard has been Director of Music at Christ Church Southgate since February 2013. During this time, he has led the choir to sing at some of the UK’s finest cathedrals and abbeys, as well as in Italy and The Netherlands. Under Richard’s direction, the choir have expanded their repertoire to include liturgical works by the great Renaissance masters as well as perform an exciting series of Baroque and Classical oratorios. His responsibilities include directing and training the choir of adults and children for all sung services and concerts, as well as overseeing the administration of the music department.
Away from Christ Church, Richard is Head of Music at The Peterborough School, where he directs the school’s Chapel Choir and Orchestra as well as leads the peripatetic and academic music teaching. As a freelance conductor, Richard is Musical Director of Bishop’s Stortford Choral Society, with whom he performs a regular concert series throughout the year, and has conducted orchestras including the London Mozart Players, Bishop’s Stortford Sinfonia, Amadeus Orchestra, and Forest Philharmonic, as well as the Baroque ensemble Musica Donum Dei.
Notable works conducted include, Bach Mass in B Minor, Christmas Oratorio and St John Passion, Beethoven Symphony No.9, Mass in C and Fantasia in C for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem and Song of Praise, Elgar The Dream of Gerontius and The Music Makers, Handel Dixit Dominus, Judas Maccabeus and Messiah, Haydn Creation and The Seasons, Mendelssohn Elijah, Mozart Requiem, Krönungsmesse, and Mass in C minor, Smyth Mass in D, Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony, Dona Nobis Pacem and Five Mystical Songs, Verdi Requiem, and Walton Belshazzar’s Feast. Orchestral works conducted include Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Beethoven Egmont Overture, Haydn Symphony No. 82 “The Bear,” Holst Two Songs without Words, and Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending and The Wasps.
You can find out more about Richard’s freelance portfolio by visiting, www.richardbrain.co.uk.
To contact Richard please email music@christchurch-southgate.org.
Organist | Kate Macpherson
Kate is the Organist of Christ Church Southgate, having previously served as the Associate Organist from 2015-2021. She is an established professional organist, accompanist, and continuo player. Previously Kate has held positions as Assistant Organist of Waltham Abbey, Assistant Organist of Crediton Parish Church (The Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton, Devon), Organ Scholar of Portsmouth Cathedral and The Portsmouth Grammar School, and Organ Scholar of the University of Exeter. Kate is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO).
Kate is in demand as a continuo player, having performed with modern and period chamber ensembles including the London Mozart Players, London Handel Players and Musica Donum Dei. She has also worked as an organist and pianist with orchestras for concert performances, including Walton Belshazzar’s Feast with the Amadeus Orchestra. She is also an experienced recitalist, having performed organ recitals in numerous cathedrals and churches, including Gloucester, St Alban’s and St Edmundsbury Cathedrals.
Outside of music, Kate has a legal career as a university academic and solicitor. She is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, specialising in immigration and human rights law. Her specific research areas include asylum and trafficking law and policy. She was formerly a supervising solicitor at the charity Asylum Aid.
Assistant Director of Music (Maternity Cover) | Douglas Knight
We are delighted to be joined by Douglas Knight as a member of our Music Team while Kate is on Maternity Leave. In addition to playing and directing the choir at Christ Church, Douglas is also Director of Music at All Saints Church Friern Barnet.