Peter Siepmann
Director of Music
Peter Siepmann began his tenure as Director of Music of Nottingham Bach Choir in September 2019, following two years as the choir’s Accompanist and Assistant Director of Music. As a conductor, accompanist and continuo player, Peter has performed many of the major works of the choral repertoire with choirs of all sizes, both on the concert stage and in a liturgical setting.
He was educated at St Edward’s School Oxford and the University of Nottingham, where he was awarded a doctorate in 2010. Since 2007, he has been Organist and Director of Music at St Peter’s Church, Nottingham, where the Nottingham Evening Post has noted an “outstanding standard of music making”.
Alongside his work as a conductor and organist, Peter is an Examiner for ABRSM and an experienced teacher; he taught for several years in the renowned department at Uppingham School before moving to Repton School where he is currently Head of Academic Music.
Peter is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and a number of his organ pupils have gone on to cathedral and university scholarships.
Edward Turner
Accompanist
Edward Turner joined the team at the Nottingham Bach Choir as Accompanist in September 2019. He is currently the Assistant Director of Music at Derby Cathedral, in which capacity he accompanies the Cathedral Choir, plays for most choral services at the Cathedral, directs the Cathedral Voluntary Choir and assists in the training of the boy and girl choristers. He also directs Derby University Choir.
His musical career began as a Chorister at Southwell Minster, and continued after school with posts at Worcester College, Oxford; Dean Close School, Cheltenham; and Tewkesbury Abbey; before returning to Southwell Minster as Organ Scholar. He was also the accompanist and associate conductor to Bingham and District Choral Society prior to his appointment at NBC. A very experienced accompanist and organist, he has particular passions for choral music and the Anglican liturgy. Outside the organ loft and office, he can often be found walking, eating, drinking, or any combination of the aforementioned.
Our History
Beginnings
The NBC was formed during September 1954 by a small group of 42 singers, led and inspired by Sir David Lumsden who was at the time, organist at St. Mary’s Church, High Pavement, Nottingham. The first work to be sung in rehearsal was J.S.Bach’s Sleepers Wake. The infant choir was initially too small in number to contemplate a concert on its own, and its first performance was a joint one with the University Cantata Choir conducted by the newly appointed Professor of Music, Ivor Keys in February 1955. By the time our first Director of Music, Sir David Lumsden resigned in order to take up a post at New College, Oxford, the choir was firmly established in the musical life of the city, strong enough in numbers and musicianship to tackle the largest works in the Bach repertoire.
The choir’s connection to the University Music Department continued under successive music Professors until 1990 when Paul Hale was appointed. At this time the choir became completely independent from the University, appointing its own officers and committee. It continued to grow under Paul Hale’s superb direction, and has a reputation for its high quality of music making. Peter Siepmann has maintained and enhanced that reputation since he became director of music in 2019.
Music
The music of J.S.Bach is central to our repertoire and some of his music is performed during each season. Successive conductors have widened the range of music performed, and we have encompassed works from the Renaissance composers, through Baroque, Classical and Romantic to the 21st Century.
The choir has also developed an interest in contemporary music, performing several new works by local and international composers. Presenting Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem during the composer’s centenary year was a highlight of the season; and Britten's works Rejoice in the Lamb and St Nicholas featured in our own joyful return to singing together after Covid.
President
Paul Hale
For 29 years Paul served as Nottingham Bach Choir’s Director of Music. He adds “I was particularly delighted to be appointed, as the choir’s founder, Sir David Lumsden, had been my tutor at Oxford and a predecessor of mine as Rector Chori & Organist at Southwell Minster”.
Paul has a passion for the music of Sir Edward Elgar, introducing his four major choral works to the choir. Nonetheless, the music of J.S. Bach always took first place – one of the main works: Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat, St John Passion, St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B Minor appearing each season. Handel’s music (such as Saul and Israel in Egypt) also featured prominently. As well as relishing familiar (and less familiar) works, Paul enjoyed introducing choir and audience to African Sanctus by David Fanshawe, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, the Verdi Requiem, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, the War Requiem by Benjamin Britten, the completely unknown 1897 setting of the Requiem by CV Stanford, plus major new works by Andrew Carter and Bob Chilcott, along with local composers Guy Turner and David Machell.
Paul was delighted to hand over to Peter Siepmann in 2019 and now, as he says, “I take enormous pleasure in attending NBC concerts, enjoying the music I have often conducted and meeting my NBC friends once again. It is a privilege now to be the choir’s President; it will continue to have my fullest support”.
Trustees
Nicola McLelland
Chair
Naomi Solleveld
Venue Management and Publicity
Chris Steel
Treasurer
Ann Cockburn
Librarian
Liz Cordle
Secretary
Leigh Hornsby
Concert Manager
Gordon Stoner
Refreshments
Other Post Holders
Steven Cooper
Soloist Fixer
Maureen Hollins
Friends
Karen Pheasant
Front of House
Marian Goodall
Membership
Ruth Miles
Website
Lauren Tuffield
Ticket Secretary
Chris Watkins
Bursary Coordinator