ALEX PATTERSON MMus
Director of Music

Alex Patterson is a Northern Irish-born composer and conductor based in Nottingham. In addition to his role at Nottingham Cathedral Alex is Musical Director for the Radcliffe Ladies’ Choir and conducts Nottingham Youth Voices and the Nottingham Lunchtime Choir based in the Nottingham Royal Centre. He is also a trustee for the Binns Organ Trust and Finzi Trust.
 
Alex studied at the University of Nottingham and later at Birmingham Conservatoire specialising in composition and opera. Since graduating seven years ago, Alex has developed a wealth of experience as a choral animateur, particularly for community and youth music-making, and leads singing workshops across Nottinghamshire with people of all ages and abilities. He has also conducted a range of major works including Monteverdi's Vespers​, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, both Duruflé’s and Fauré’s Requiem, and the musical thriller Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim.
 
Between his various conducting duties and also working for Arts Council England, Alex is a freelance composer. He has written a wealth of choral music which has been performed all over the world, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and published by Banks Music Publications. Alex is currently one of the composers-in-residence with Streetwise Opera. 

​www.alexpatterson.co.uk

ROBERT GOWER MA FRCO (CHM) LRAM ARCM FRSA 
​Organist

Robert Gower held scholarships at the Royal School of Church Music and Lincoln College, Oxford before a teaching career which led successively from St Paul’s School to Radley College, where he was Precentor (Director of Music) for fourteen years and then onwards to Glenalmond College, where he served similarly - also being Housemaster of a boys’ boarding house and latterly working until retirement in 2012 as Senior Tutor, with responsibility for stimulating intellectual challenge amongst the most academically able pupils.

Robert is Chairman of the Gerald Finzi and Percy Whitlock charitable trusts and examines for the ABRSM and the Royal College of Organists. His publications include composer organ albums for Bliss, Finzi and Walton, an edition of John Ireland’s organ music and OUP anthologies of Ceremonial, Christmas and Lent/Easter repertoire for organ. Robert works extensively within hymnody, contributing original tunes and arrangements (most recently in the new 2013 Hymns Ancient & Modern and in the Oxford Book of Descants).

​Robert and his wife Pauline have a daughter Rebecca and a son Matthew. Robert enjoys art and architecture and is devoted to his trio of border terriers.

EDEN LAVELLE
Assistant Director of Music

Eden is a pianist, choral conductor, singer, and organist who is currently a Music student at the University of Nottingham. In addition to his duties at Nottingham Cathedral, he is the Assistant Conductor of the University's Choir and Chamber Choir under Calum Fraser, and is also the répétiteur for Coro Sorelle, a female choir at the University. Previously, Eden has directed an office choir for Nottingham CityCare and a men's choir at the University. Beyond the realms of music, Eden is a book lover and keen tennis player.

GRAEME VERNON ARMCM
Organist Emeritus

Graeme Vernon was educated in Nottingham before moving to Manchester where he studied organ at the Royal Manchester College of Music, gaining the ARMCM diploma. Whilst in Manchester he was organist and choirmaster at St Michael and all Angels, Lawton Moor, Wythenshaw, and later at the church of St Martin's, Marple Bridge, Cheshire.

Returning to Nottingham he joined the parish of St Augustine of Canterbury, New Basford as organist and later choirmaster until the church closed and was invited to St Barnabas Cathedral as assistant to Peter Smedley - to take over the parish mass and to assist at the High Mass. Graeme continues at the 10am Mass, working with a small group of singers to provide a simple congregational sung mass and is a assists with many major Diocesan occasions.