Director of Music

Timothy Byram-Wigfield was appointed Director of Music at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in September 2003. A chorister at King's College, Cambridge, he was Organ Scholar at Christ Church, Oxford, and also studied the organ at the Royal College of Music with Richard Popplewell. He continued his studies with David Sanger whilst Sub Organist at Winchester Cathedral, during which time he was a finalist in the Performer of the Year award promoted by the Royal College of Organists.

In 1991, he took up the post of Master of the Music at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, and won considerable acclaim for his work with the choir there, through concerts, tours and broadcasts, especially during the Edinburgh Festival. During this time, he trained the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus and toured widely as a recitalist. In 1999 he took up the new post of Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he combined his choral activities in college with teaching and playing. A recent CD of 12 organs of Edinburgh was nominated by Gramophone magazine as one of the best releases of 2000. A review in April's 'Gramophone' of his latest CD of orchestral transcriptions played on the famous Lewis organ in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow reads: "Byram-Wigfield's performances are superb:...carefully crafted interpretations played with consummate skill." May 2004 sees the release of Tim's first CD recording at the organ of St George's Chapel, on Regent Records, in a recital including Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G BWV 541, Reger's mammoth Chorale Fantasia on Hallelujah! Gott zu loben, transcriptions of music by Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, together with music by Howells, Alcock, Bohm and Walton. For more details click here.

Tim took up his post in January of 2004. His duties centre on the famous choir of boys and men, not only in its daily round of sung services, but also in ceremonies of national and royal significance, as well as its development of projects outside Windsor. Future recitals this year include St Paul's Cathedral, St John's, Smith Square in April, and St David's Hall in Cardiff.

The Assistant Organist

Roger Judd was appointed Assistant Organist in 1985 and between September 2002 and December 2003 he was Acting Organist and Master of the Choristers of St George's Chapel. At Cambridge he studied under Sir David Willcocks and Dr Nicholas Temperley, before moving to Ely as assistant organist. He then became Master of Music at St Michael's, Tenbury where he served 12 years until coming to St George's. In addition to his work in the Chapel, he has extensive teaching commitments, and has also a considerable number of CD recordings to his credit. As a soloist, he is much in demand. In 2002 he made his solo recital debut at St John's, Smith Square in London in June, and played the Poulenc Organ Concerto in the 2002 Windsor Festival with John Lubbock and the Orchestra of St John's Smith Square. He will be visiting Norway in October 2003 playing concerts in Kristiansund, Molde and the Cathedrals in Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim.

The Organ Scholar (2006-2007)

John Challenger began his musical education as a chorister at Hereford Cathedral under Dr. Roy Massey, after which he was organ scholar at Hereford Cathedral School and was taught by Geraint Bowen. An ARCO prize-winner, John has given recitals in and around Hereford as well as appearing in the BBC Hereford and Worcester Young Musicians’ Showcase. He holds the ATCL diploma for piano and recently featured in the 2006 Three Choirs Festival, playing organ with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

The Lay-Clerks

The lay-clerks, the adult singers in the Choir, have come to Windsor from a variety of different routes, not all of them immediately obvious. One was a foundry manager in the West Midlands, while many have followed the traditional route of Oxbridge choral scholar. They also lead varied lives away from their work in the Chapel. There are two computer experts and a concert organist amongst them. Two are on the staff of Trinity College of Music, and another at the Royal Academy of Music. Several of the lay-clerks teach in Windsor schools, while another teaches at Leighton Park School, Reading, and one works for the Berkshire Music Trust. Another works with a concert agency, while yet another teaches English literature at summer courses run by Oxford University.

When they leave Windsor, their lives are equally diverse. Many are making names for themselves in the music profession; Daniel Auchincloss, Matthew Beale, Robin Blaze, James Oxley, Brindley Sherratt and Mark Wilde among them. Two are now parish priests, several have moved into the legal profession, another is an accountant, and one is in a city firm of brokers. And of course many of the Lay Clerks are well-known freelance singers in their own right.

The Choristers

The Chapel Choir contains up to 23 choristers, a number which includes up to 6 'probationers' (usually boys in their first year in the choir). At present the choristers are boys aged between 7 and 13. They are educated at St George's School on generous scholarships awarded by the Dean and Canons. They assist in the singing of three services on Sundays and at evensong on five days of the week during term time. The Choir Matron is Myra Shore, and she and her husband Roger are House Parents for the boarders at the School which of course includes the choristers.