Detailed Programmes and Performers’ Biographies

4 July: Colin Walsh

Colin Walsh’s association with cathedral music goes back over forty years. He has served, in various capacities, St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle, Christ Church Oxford (where he worked closely with Simon Preston and studied the organ with Nicholas Danby), Salisbury Cathedral and St Albans Cathedral. He went to Lincoln Cathedral in 1988 as Organist and Master of the Choristers, becoming Organist Laureate in 2003 and Organist Emeritus in 2021.

As an organ recitalist he has played in all the major venues in the UK, most European countries, the USA, Australasia, Hong Kong and Russia.

His studies in Paris with the blind French organist and composer Jean Langlais inspired him to specialise in 19th and 20th century French organ music. In 1988 he played, at a public concert, the music of Olivier Messiaen in front of the composer. His recordings on CD and DVD as a choral conductor, accompanist and soloist number nearly forty over many years and various labels. He has appeared as organ soloist in the BBC Radio 3 ‘Live in Concert’ series, and more recently he has recorded a live performance of Messiaen’s La Nativité for Priory Records, a CD of Bach in Lincoln Cathedral, and music by Dupré and Demessieux from the famous Cavaillé-Coll organ of St Ouen, Rouen.

He teaches in Cambridge and London and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of Lincoln. His interests include travel, animals and, of course, good food.

PROGRAMME

Bach: Kyrie, Gott, heiliger Geist BWV 671

Meck arr Walther: Concerto in B minor

1) Allegro

2) Adagio

3) Allegro

Carvalho: Allegro in D

Bossi: Entree Pontificale

Bossi: Scherzo in G minor

Langlais: Le fils(Trois Meditations sur la Sainte Trinite)

Dubois: Toccata in G

11 July: Ruth Lee (harp)

Ruth Lee is an award-winning harpist and composer whose work is driven by narrative, often blending the realms of history, mythology and nature. Described as a ‘musical storyteller’ with ‘her own inner voice’ (Sioned Williams, UKHA Review), Ruth has been recognised for her innovative approach to both composition and performance. She was a Semi-Finalist in the World Harp Competition 2024 and has received multiple accolades, including the Sioned Williams Harp Prize at the United Kingdom Harp Competition, the Iain Macleòid Young Composer Award at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, and the Wales International Harp Festival Composition Competition. She performed a solo recital at the World Harp Congress in 2022, showcasing her compositions alongside contemporary works.

Ruth’s music often incorporates both acoustic and electro-acoustic elements. She uses loop machines, ambient noise, and extended harp techniques to create a distinctive sound world that blends folk, classical, and experimental influences. Her compositions range from traditional western notation to graphic scores, with some works inspired by photography and in-situ sketches. Ruth is particularly interested in the ways in which sound can evoke a sense of place and time, which informs much of her work.

A graduate of the University of York (First-Class BA Hons. Music, 2019), Ruth was awarded both the Wilfrid Mellers Prize for Music and a Concerto Award. During her studies, she performed Soñando en Español by Deborah Henson-Conant with the University of York Chamber Orchestra. Ruth has had the privilege of studying harp for many years under Eleanor Turner. After graduating, she continued her studies with Charlotte Seale, expanding her knowledge and skills in contemporary harp performance.

Recent compositional premieres include Memory Thread for Duncan Honeybourne, marking the centenary of Erik Satie’s death, as well as Mrs MacQueen for baritone Robert Rice & pianist William Vann. Ruth’s works have been performed and workshopped by several notable ensembles and soloists, including Lore Lixenberg (Krummholz), The Hermes Experiment, The Chimera Ensemble, and other international artists through The Arc Project. With the support of Salvi Harps, she created ‘Reimagined‘, a multimedia concert featuring original and contemporary works for electric harp and chamber ensemble, performed by her all-female trio, Phantasia. Ruth regularly collaborates with soloists and chamber musicians, often blending folk and contemporary classical styles, and integrating improvisation into both her performance and compositional processes.

Outside of the concert hall, Ruth works with Live Music Now, delivering interactive performances and workshops in SEND schools, hospitals, care homes, and community settings. Ruth is passionate about encouraging young people to find their musical voice and creates online music courses, such as Kickstart Composing! for ages 7-15, which is suitable for all instruments. Through these platforms, she aims to inspire and nurture the next generation of musicians. 

PROGRAMME

• Watching the Wheat – John Thomas
• Haar – Ailie Robertson
• The Nightingale – Deborah Henson-Conant
• Alice in Escher’s Wonderland – Eleanor Turner
• Two Kay Sage Paintings – David Power
• Swerving Bunnies / Eggshell Brewery – Ailie Robertson / Rachel Newton
• Song of the Sea – Bruno Coulais
• Sulla Lulla – Traditional Norwegian, arr. Eleanor Turner

18 July: Jeffrey Makinson (organ)

Jeffrey Makinson is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Lincoln Cathedral.

He is also an accredited teacher for the Royal College of Organists Academy and Music Director of Beverley Chamber Choir.  Born in Manchester in 1970, Jeffrey received his musical training at the Royal Northern College of Music and at Manchester University.  He subsequently became Organ Scholar at York Minster for two years before spending five years as Assistant Organist at Lincoln Cathedral.  He moved to Manchester Cathedral as Sub-Organist in 1999.  During his time in Manchester he was Tutor of Organ at the Royal Northern College of Music and at Manchester University and Tutor in Piano at Chetham’s School of Music. 

Jeffrey returned to Lincoln in January 2015.  As part of his duties at the Cathedral, Jeffrey accompanies the cathedral choir for most of the choral services and directs the girl choristers.   He also maintains a busy schedule as a recitalist, accompanist, conductor, teacher and adjudicator in the city and across the country.  As an organist, Jeffrey has performed across Europe and North America.   In the United Kingdom he has given concerts at most of the major cathedrals, abbeys, collegiate chapels, churches and concert halls, including numerous recitals at Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, St. Paul’s Cathedral and King’s College, Cambridge.   Jeffrey is an examiner for the Royal College of Organists.  He has also taught on numerous ‘Royal College of Organists’ and ‘Oundle for Organists’ courses.   He works extensively for the BBC, as regular musical director and organist for Radio 4 Daily Service.  He has also worked on television and radio shows such as ‘Songs of Praise’, ‘Chorister of the Year’, ‘Choral Evensong’, ‘Minstrels in the Gallery’, ‘Young Musician of the Year’, ‘Sunday Morning Worship’ and the Radio 4 ‘Pilgrimage to Rome’.  He has made numerous CD recordings, with the Albany, Delphian, Herald, Lammas, Naxos, Priory and Regent labels.

For many years Jeffrey was Organist in Residence at the Exon Singers Summer Festival, held in Devon.    He has a keen interest in new music and has given first performances of works by numerous leading composers, including Michael Berkeley, Judith Bingham, Mark Blatchly, James Burton, Martin Bussey, Bob Chilcott, Naji Hakim, Robin Holloway, Grayston Ives, Francis Jackson, George Lloyd, Richard Lloyd, Matthew Martin, Philip Moore, Howard Skempton and Philip Wilby.

As an orchestral musician he has worked alongside some of the country’s leading ensembles, including the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Northern Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

25 July: Olivia Thomas (soprano) and David Beer (piano)

1 August: George Elson (baritone) and Josh Wilkinson (piano)

Hailing from Trusthorpe, George Elson is currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester
under Quentin Hayes. He enjoys performing Art Songs in addition to Arias, with a particular interest in German repertoire. George recently performed in the chorus of Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘The Snow Maiden’ at RNCM, and regularly performs in Lincolnshire
Last year he delivered a solo recital at Boston Stump, also accompanied by Jane O’Farrell. Outside of singing, George enjoys cycling and riding his motorbike through the Lincolnshire Wolds.

Josh Wilkinson completed an MA in Music at the University of York, specialising in Chamber Music Performance and passing with Distinction.   For his degree Josh formed a piano trio with two fellow students to create the Jochama Piano Trio, with whom he has given concerts at Lincoln Drill Hall, Lotherton Hall and Doncaster Art Gallery. 

Since completing his studies Josh has enjoyed a varied career working with Students from York, Newcastle and Durham Universities, The Royal Northern College and Leeds College of Music. He has performed at the Ryedale Festival on three occasions: in 2017 in a performance with the Miranda Wright Singers, in 2018 accompanying various masterclassses, and in 2019 as pianist for a production of Wind in the Willows.  Alongside this he has worked as an accompanist with the Voices Foundation, Samling Academy, Aspect Opera, Opera Schmopera and York Theatre Royal Choir. 

Josh is currently working as a private piano teacher in Alford, Lincolnshire. He is also the conductor of the Alford Silver Band, as well as being a founding member of ‘In Harmony’, a group that provides singing workshops in the Lincolnshire area.

8 August: Paul Hale (organ)

15 August: Clare Laughton (cello) and Robert Poyser (piano)

Clare Laughton Bmus (Hons), originally from Louth in Lincolnshire, studied Music at the University of Hull which is where she met her accompanist. Shortly after graduating, Clare moved to York and became heavily involved in medieval music and began working at Bootham School, where she taught for 14 years. Clare now teaches at Hymers College, Queen Ethelburga’s, Ashville College and Ackworth School.

Clare has played with the English National Orchestra, recorded with Shed 7, toured Switzerland with Grammy nominated Gungor and has worked for many years with the ELO Experience, touring UK theatres and festivals. Work is now usually based closer to home playing in chamber ensembles and orchestras, appearing regularly with the Ebor Quartet, Scarborough Symphony Orchestra and at Hull Arena for Love Actually and a Meatloaf tribute.

Clare spends her free time chasing after her 4-year-old twin girls, rescue dog ‘Chum’ and restoring old instruments.

Robert Poyser Bmus FTCL ARCO has been Director of Music at Beverley Minster since March 2009. He combines his busy role at the Minster with teaching piano and organ, performing and accompanying. Since arriving at the Minster, Robert has founded a Girls choir which is now a regular and integral part of the musical life of the Minster and more recently, a Junior choir

Robert was born in Gloucester where he was a chorister at the Cathedral and also Organ Scholar under David Briggs. He graduated in 2000 with a first class degree from the University of Hull, where he held the University Organ Scholarship and studied with John Scott Whiteley.  After leaving Hull, Robert held the post of Organ Scholar at York Minster, also teaching at the Minster School before moving to be Assistant Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral in 2003. In 2008, Robert became acting Director of Music at Chelmsford and then moved in the summer to take up the post of Director of Music at St Mary’s, Portsea, in Portsmouth before moving to Beverley.

22 August: Rosemary Field (organ)

Rosemary Field studied at the Royal College of Music under Nicholas Danby. As a student she won the RCM prizes for harmony and for organ-playing, and was later awarded the Tournemire Medal (for Improvisation) at the St Albans Festival in the 80s. Choosing to go into church music was an early decision and she has spent the last 40 years in this vocation alongside that of teaching, writing and supporting parishes and individuals in their work. Appointments held have included the Sub-Organist posts of Birmingham and Portsmouth Cathedrals, Diocesan Music Development Officer for Lincoln (2008 – 12) and a period of 15 years at St. Stephen’s Westminster. Rosemary become deputy Director of the Royal School of Church Music in late 2012, then requested a transfer to the teaching team late in 2019 – just before the pandemic changed everything. She is now Sunday Organist at Worksop Priory, has returned to Lincolnshire to live in her own house, and is rebuilding a portfolio based here.

29 August: Naomi Sullivan (saxophone) and Jane O’Farrell (piano)

Naomi Sullivan studied at Chetham’s School of Music, the Royal College of Music and Northwestern University.   She has a varied career with a focus on chamber music, contemporary music and music education. She has been part of several chamber recording projects: with Syzygy (a quartet she co-founded in 2009) and Flotilla – lead by Kyle Horch. She joined the Laefer Quartet in 2020 ahead of their 2023 album, Strata. 

As an orchestral musician, Naomi has worked for UK orchestras including Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Aurora Orchestra, Chineke and the Orchestra of the Swan. In September 2007 she started teaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has been Head of Saxophone since 2008. Naomi also teaches at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  Naomi has given masterclasses across the UK, in South Africa, Andorra, Norway and USA. With the support of the Erasmus Exchange programme, she has collaborated with the Royal Conservatoires of Antwerp, Brussels, Ferrara, Fermo, Pesaro, Lucerne, Amsterdam and Vienna.

Jane O’Farrell studied at the Royal College of Music with Kendall Taylor and Bernard Roberts.  She performs as a soloist,  as accompanist with  both singers and instrumentalists,  works with two choirs and has been musical director for several theatrical productions.   Whilst being a board member of the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival Jane introduced many young people to live classical music through taking professional performers into schools to give workshops.  Jane also teaches piano and takes great pleasure in encouraging love of music in her students, giving them opportunities for performance wherever possible.