Tom is in his second year, studying Music, and is from the South East. He has been passionate about music since a very early age, picking up the piano not long after he learnt to speak. The next instrument to come was the oboe, which is now his principal study, having achieved a distinction in the ARSM Diploma exam. On the oboe he was the principal for three years in his school’s most accomplished orchestra, as well as acting as principal for his county youth wind orchestra. He now enjoys his time participating in various University ensembles. During his formative years he also learnt other instruments like cello, bassoon, cor anglais and alto recorder, using them in school concerts. With secondary school coming to a close, he picked up the organ relatively late, already being proficient in piano and having achieved distinction at grade 8. His pedal technique ameliorated soon and he was involved in playing for school services at Churches and Cathedrals, a particular highlight being playing for parts of the carol service at Guildford Cathedral.
As a singer, he has sung across the country in Anglican services including in Chichester, Winchester, Durham and St Paul’s Cathedrals, amongst others. He was a tenor choral scholar at St Chad’s in his first year of University and enjoys singing with other choirs from time to time. Also in his first year, he was co-conductor and organist for the choir of St Cuthbert’s society, during which he conducted, as well as accompanied, services at Durham Cathedral and at various concerts throughout the year. Having conducted a talented octet of singers in the final years of secondary school, he is now well equipped to conduct choral repertoire stretching from Taverner through to Tavener!
He is very much looking forward to the upcoming year at St Chad’s and has lots of exciting plans and cannot wait to get started! When Tom is not in a practice room, sorting music in the library, or studying, he can be found running around pitches and courts playing sport.
 

Guy is a third year history student from Sussex. He started learning the piano at an early age beginning to learn the organ in 2020. In 2021 Guy gained a London College of Music performance diploma on the piano and in 2022 ABRSM grade 8 organ and percussion. During his gap year Guy was organ scholar at Sherborne Abbey and School, which greatly improved all aspects of his organ playing enabling him to quickly take a large share of the playing duties at St Chad’s. Guy has greatly enjoyed being organ scholar at St Chad’s over the last 2 years. It’s been an excellent opportunity to develop his organ playing, particularly working alongside the experienced college organist which among Durham colleges is a position unique to St Chad’s. As senior organ scholar Guy is particularly looking forward to devoting some time to conducting this year, along with the usual highlights of playing in cathedrals. Guy is now looking to take his Associate of the Royal College of Organists exams in January.

Rooney is a 3rd year Music student from Shanghai, China. He started his initial piano tuition at the age of 4, and holds a practical diploma from ABRSM. His choral journey started at school, where he was a member of the Chamber Choir and the Chapel Choir, singing a wide range of repertoire, both sacred and secular. The choir visited venues across the south, including Southwark and Chichester Cathedrals. Such wonderful opportunities enhanced Rooney's passion for choral music, and decided to take up organ as his second instrument. He started having lessons since the beginning of first year, and has made steady progress throughout the past two years. 

During his first and second year, Rooney held the position of Assistant Musical Director at Grey College Choir, accompanying all their services and performances in venues including Durham and Newcastle Cathedrals, as well as a tour to Paris. He also sang in St Chad's Chapel Choir as a tenor. During his second year, he was also appointed Organ Scholar of the Chapel Choir of St Hild and St Bede, accompanying their Sunday Eucharists Services. He is looking forward to taking his liturgical playing to the next stage with Chad's, and is delighted to continue music-making with such a fantastic group of musicians.
 

Cicely is first year physics student from South West London. She started playing the piano and the trumpet at primary school. In September 2022 Cicely was awarded a school scholarship to start playing the organ and became Junior Organ Scholar at St Mary Merton shortly after in 2023. She enjoyed being part of the musical life at her school; accompanying the school choir, playing in the concert band, orchestra and jazz band, as well as playing keyboard and trumpet in the pit band at the school’s annual musical performing at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Her interests in the pipe organ extend to the history and mechanics of the instrument and has joined ‘Pipe Up for Pipe Organs’, joining workshops to repair and tune historic organs in London. Cicely is very much looking forward to joining St Chad’s in October as one of this year’s Junior Organ Scholars and to joining the college chapel choir as well as other musical groups.

Peter supports the life of our College Chapel as College Organist alongside his work within the University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics. He provides mentorship to the Organ Scholars and brings a wealth of experience to Chad's as a church musician. Originally from St Helens, Merseyside, Peter was a chorister in his local parish church choir, where his father was the Organist and Choir Master, before taking up the organ. Peter has accompanied St Chad's College Chapel Choir on a variety of UK and International tours, including in Europe and North America, and has recorded a series of CDs with the choir. He continues to study organ with Keith Wright, former Sub-Organist at Durham Cathedral, and plays regularly at a number of churches across the North East in addition to contributing to various recital series. As a former Durham student and Chad's Organ Scholar, Peter enjoys the opportunity to support the next generation of musicians and is an advocate for widening participation in Higher Education. When not in the physics lab or at the organ bench, Peter can regularly be found playing cricket for Durham City or cheering on his beloved Lancashire CCC!Peter supports the life of our College Chapel as College Organist alongside his work within the University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics. He provides mentorship to the Organ Scholars and brings a wealth of experience to Chad's as a church musician. Originally from St Helens, Merseyside, Peter was a chorister in his local parish church choir, where his father was the Organist and Choir Master, before taking up the organ. Peter has accompanied St Chad's College Chapel Choir on a variety of UK and International tours, including in Europe and North America, and has recorded a series of CDs with the choir. He continues to study organ with Keith Wright, former Sub-Organist at Durham Cathedral, and plays regularly at a number of churches across the North East in addition to contributing to various recital series. As a former Durham student and Chad's Organ Scholar, Peter enjoys the opportunity to support the next generation of musicians and is an advocate for widening participation in Higher Education. When not in the physics lab or at the organ bench, Peter can regularly be found playing cricket for Durham City or cheering on his beloved Lancashire CCC!