Roger Sayer | Gavin Williams | Dan Soper

Roger Sayer (Director of Music)

Roger Sayer is Organist of Rochester Cathedral. He began his musical career as a chorister in Portsmouth. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music under the late Nicholas Danby, winning all the major organ prizes. Between 1980 and 1984 he was organ student at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, and in 1981 was appointed organist of Woodford Parish Church, where he built up a fine musical tradition.

Since graduating he has been constantly in demand as an organist and conductor. He makes regular visits to Scandanavia, as well as giving numerous concerts in most parts of Europe and the USA. Recently these included performances in St. Paul's Cathedral in the Celebrity Series, and Riverside Church in New York. In 1989 he won third prize in the St. Albans International Organ Competition, and in the same year was appointed Assistant Organist at Rochester Cathedral. In 1994 Roger was promoted to the position of Organist and Director of Music at Rochester Cathedral, his responsibilities being: directing the traditional boys' choir on a daily basis, as well as directing the Girls' Choir and the Senior Girls' Choir, which he established in 1995 and 2004 respectively. In September 2008 he relinquished the post to concentrate on his freelance activities, but remains as Cathedral Organist.

Roger has made numerous highly acclaimed recordings, both as an organist and as a conductor. He frequently directs choral workshops, and has initiated and directed several projects, including Britten's Noah's Fludde and a children's music education week. During the past few years he has played many of the monthly concerts of the Great Organ Works series, which he founded at Rochester, including the complete organ works of J. S. Bach in 2005.

His concerts in many parts of the world have included the organ symphonies of Vierne and all the organ works of Duruflé. In 2009, his performances have taken him to Iceland, Italy, France, Germany and the USA. He accompanies many choirs, including the world famous Tenebrae. He is also accompanist of the London Symphony Chorus, and is Deputy Musical Director of the London Gay Men's Chorus. The Midas Touch Organ Duo, with Charles Andrews, is another of his many additional musical activities, and one which is hoped will promote the organ to a younger audience as they pilot educational concerts.

On top of his busy schedule he finds time to examine for the Associated Board, and adjudicates for the British Federation of Music Festivals.

His third release in the Classic Selection series is due for release later this year.

Please see Roger's website for more information.

Gavin Williams (Assistant Director of Music and Chorus Master)

Gavin Williams studied piano, organ and composition at the Royal Academy of Music from 1961 to 1964 passing FRCO, GRSM, LRAM and ARCM. He had already passed ARCO at 17 years of age, while still at school. After a further year at the RAM, studying orchestral conducting with Maurice Miles, and conducting several concerts with the Academy musicians, Gavin was appointed sub-organist of Guildford Cathedral.

With the cathedral choir under Barry Rose, Gavin made over a dozen records with international recording companies (later brought out as CDs), and was awarded two gold discs and one platinum disc. With the cathedral choir, Gavin performed in many parts of the country, and accompanied a special Evensong in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.

Gavin moved to Rochester as Director of Music of King's School in 1970, and immediately founded the professional orchestra Orchestra Roffensis, with whom he has given concerts with many leading international soloists, including John Ogdon, John Lill and Robert Cohen. Under his direction the King's School Choir has toured most of the cathedrals in the country, and achieved exceptionally high standards.

After 35 years as Director of Music at King's School, Rochester, Gavin retired in August 2005. He taught music, mathematics, and coached cricket, rugby and hockey. Retirement has enabled him to devote more time to playing the piano and organ, as well as serving as a magistrate for North Kent.

Dan Soper (Accompanist and Webmaster)

Dan Soper began his musical education as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral. After this, he was educated at Trinity School in Croydon, during which time he was Organ Scholar at Croydon Parish Church, and accompanied the school choir in its Cathedral visits. He spent his gap year at Chelmsford Cathedral as Organ Scholar, gaining considerable experience in choral accompaniment.

In July 2005 Dan graduated after three years at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he read music, while being Organ Scholar. During this time he shared conducting the choir and accompanying with the other Organ Scholar, and, while he was Senior Organ Scholar, the choir recorded a CD, Regina Caeli, and toured to Prague.

From September 2005 to July 2006, Dan was Assistant Organist at Winchester College, combined with being Music Assistant at The Pilgrims' School, where the Cathedral Choristers and College Quiristers are educated. In September 2006 he moved to Rochester as Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral, a position which includes conducting the Girls' Choir. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists.

Apart from music, his other hobbies are mostly related to computers. He enjoys creating websites and Web programs, including two large projects of note; one which takes money from Internet advertising and donates it to charity, and another which creates psalms for church choirs.