Lee's passion for music knows no bounds

Whether giving organ recitals, accompanying on piano or organ, composing new music, or working with cathedral, church, or symphonic choirs, Lee has a knack for bringing music to life.

Lee was educated at Harrogate High School, where he played in the Wind Band, directed by the legendary Neil Richmond, and wrote music for his friends to play in solo and ensemble performances. In the sixth form he joined the choir of St Peter’s Church, Harrogate, later being appointed Organ Scholar, and there he found inspiration in the conducting and playing of the Dr Philip Wilby and Richard Hunt.

He read Music at Hertford College, in the University of Oxford, as Organ Scholar, and as manager and member of the Oxford University Orchestra, he worked with such esteemed conductors as Douglas Boyd, Peter Stark, Garry Walker and Sir Roger Norrington. Whilst at Oxford he was awarded a Britten-Pears Scholarship to study with the current Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir CBE, and he gave the première performance of no fewer than fifty piano works by North American composers, in a series of concerts he gave whilst president of the Oxford University Contemporary Music Group. He also held a choral scholarship at Worcester College, Oxford, and conducted, accompanied, and sang with, the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

After working as Director of Music at Christ Church, Southgate in London, where he directed the choir in services and concerts (and worked as Musical Director of Enfield Choral Society), he was awarded the prestigious Organ Scholarship at York Minster, combining this with teaching at The Minster and St Peter’s Schools, and accompanying the York Musical Society and singing in the Micklegate Singers. At York he was privileged to work alongside Dr Philip Moore and Dr John Scott Whiteley, and worked with the fêted Dr Francis Jackson on performances of a number of his choral and organ works. During this period he was awarded the Associateship and Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists, as well as their Diploma in Choral Direction, and the Archbishops’ Certificate in Church Music from The Guild of Church Musicians.

In 2006, he was appointed Director of Music at the prominent church of All Saints Northampton, and in 2007 he took on the position of Musical Director of the 130-strong Northampton Bach Choir. With these choirs he has commissioned over 70 new works, including compositions by David Bednall, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, David Briggs, Sir Stephen Cleobury, Jonathan Dove, Michael Finnissy, Stephen Hough and Sir James MacMillan. The choirs have also toured extensively, from Canada and the United States to Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy.

Lee has also made a number of critically-acclaimed recordings, most recently Notre Père (2012), Carol of Joy (2011), and Omnes Sancti (2010) with the Choirs of All Saints; Requiem Reflections (2017), I was Glad! (2012) and Congaudeat (2010) with the Northampton Bach Choir; and Be Merry! (2014), featuring seasonal works by contemporary American composers, with both All Saints and the Northampton Bach Choir.

In the Autumn of 2022 Lee began studying at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, for priesthood in the Church of England. He has therefore reduced his regular music-making commitments substantially, and has completed his time as Musical Director of Northampton Bach Choir and Wellingborough Singers, as Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Wellingborough, as Chorus Master of the Huntingdonshire Philharmonic, and as staff accompanist at Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. He was delighted to be awarded the title of Conductor Emeritus upon leaving Northampton Bach Choir, and continues to work as Musical Director of the Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir, whose rehearsals dovetail neatly into his academic programme.