Saint Cecilia Singers

Conductor

Ashley Grote

Ashley Grote is Deputy Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral where he plays the organ for the Cathedral's principal services and accompanies the Cathedral choir in their busy schedule of concerts, tours and broadcasts. He assists the Director of Music in the running of the Cathedral choir and conducts the Cathedral's flourishing Youth Choir who sing evensong weekly.

A former Organ Scholar of King's College, Cambridge, Ashley was assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey before moving to Gloucester in April 2008. During his time at the Abbey he took part in many prestigious events that included the service celebrating the Diamond Wedding of HM The Queen.

Born in 1982, Ashley was a chorister at King's College, Cambridge, where he began organ lessons with David Goode and was subsequently top music scholar at Uppingham School. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 2001 and after a year as Organ Scholar of St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, Ashley returned to Cambridge to study for a degree in music. As Organ Scholar at King's, he performed worldwide with the famous Chapel Choir in numerous tours, concerts and broadcasts, including the annual 'Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols'. He was also Assistant Conductor for the Cambridge University Musical Society orchestras.

Described as a 'sensitive and expressive' performer' (The Sunday Telegraph), Ashley has performed throughout the UK and Europe, with recent engagements including concerts in Germany and Finland as well as Durham, Truro, Hereford, Worcester and Westminster Cathedrals. He was a prize winner at the Dublin International Organ Festival in 2005, a semi finalist in the St Albans International Organ Competition in 2007, and has held the prestigious W. T. Best Scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Muscians of whom he is a Freeman. He continues to study with Nicholas Kynaston. Ashley is currently Organist for the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy which takes place every August and will take up the Directorship of the Festival in 2010.

Plans for 2009/10 include an organ recital in Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, CD recordings with Gloucester Cathedral Choir and performances in Westminster Abbey and Southwark Cathedral with the St Cecilia Singers. We will be organist for the 2010 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester.