St Barnabas Appoints New Director of Music

St Barnabas is delighted to announce that the PCC has approved the appointment of Harry Guthrie as our next Director of Music. He will take up his role on Sunday, 21 May.

The Vicar of St Barnabas, Fr Justin Dodd says: "Harry is a passionate young leader who believes in the power of music to inspire and change lives. He has extensive experience in both leading and teaching music, working with a variety of ages and levels of experience. I am excited to partner with Harry to expand the fine choral tradition at St Barnabas and continue the work of stirring up faith through sacred music for all ages."  

Harry has trained under renowned choral conductor Stephen Layton, conducted the Continuum Chamber Choir, been a guest conductor for the Cambridge University Chamber Choir and a rehearsal conductor for the Rodolfus Choir. He graduated from Trinity College in Cambridge with a BA in Music with Double-First Honours.

As a singer, Harry has performed with the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, Wells Cathedral Choir, Rodolfus Choir, the National Youth Choir and Chamber Choir of Great Britain, and others, including performances at The King's Chapel of the Savoy, Holy Redeemer Exmouth Market, St Columba's Church Knightsbridge, St Gabriel's Church, and more.

His teaching and management skills have been put to use at St Catharine's College as the Girls' Choir Manager and Chapel Administrator, as well as Visiting Music Theory Teacher at Stringmoves, Resident Music Assistant at St John's College School, and the list goes on.

Upon his appointment, Harry says: "I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed Director of Music at St Barnabas Church, Ealing. I greatly look forward to working with Father Justin Dodd and the entire team in the church and wider community. I am excited to be combining this role with the post of Head of Choral Music at Notting Hill & Ealing High School from September 2023. Everyone I met during the interview process was incredibly welcoming and I look forward to building upon the excellent music making happening at St Barnabas."

We are very grateful for the tremendous efforts of Paul Ayres (Acting Director of Music) and Hugh Mather (Volunteer Organist) as well as our very talented and dedicated choirs during the interregnum. We have a wonderful music programme that brings glory to God in this place. Thank you for all of your hard work!

On a final note, we also wish to thank the appointment committee (Paul Ayres, Ellen Coleman, Sunita Dugal, Mtr. Fiona Jack and Hugh Mather) for their hard work and wisdom throughout this process.