Matthew Coleridge

Composer and conductor Matthew Coleridge (b.1980) is an exciting voice in the British choral music scene. His first choral composition - the Corpus Christi Carol - was recorded by a cappella group The Queen's Six, appearing on the cover CD of BBC Music Magazine's Christmas edition in 2015.

His highly melodic and very approachable compositional style often blends elements of plainsong and medieval music with shimmering modern harmonies - weaving simple melodic lines into rich tapestries of sound.

Requiem (composed 2014-15) was hailed by the late Sir Neville Marriner as "a valuable addition to the 21st century choral repertoire". Is is regularly performed by choirs across the UK, and overseas.

Matthew's 'Requiem in a Day' choral workshops are very popular amongst choral singers, giving them the opportunity to sing this wonderful piece in some of the UK's most prestigious church buildings.

Laurence Caldecote - organ

Born and educated in the Home Counties, Laurence started piano lessons age 4, cello lessons age 9, and organ lessons age 11. He held his first organist post the following year. Having studied music composition with Robert Ramskill at Coventry University, he graduated with a 2:1 in Music Composition and Professional Practice. While at university, he was Organ Scholar at St. Nicolas’ Nuneaton, and stayed on to serve as Associate Organist until 2017.

Since January 2018, Laurence has held the post of Assistant Organist at All Saints’, Northampton, and is an experienced accompanist, specialising in choral accompaniment and work with solo vocalists. He studies the organ with Richard Brasier in Upminster, and previously studied with Dr. Martin Moxham, Geoffrey Holroyde, Tim Campain, and Kerry Beaumont.

He is an active recitalist, and has played venues in the UK, Norway and the USA. As a teacher, Laurence specialises in improvisation. He is also an accomplished pianist as well as an active and published composer; his choral music is published by Chichester Music Press, with some psalm chants published in a new volume entitled ‘Cantica Novum 2’. His organ compositions are available to buy and download from sheetmusicplus.com.

Laurence is a member of the Royal School of Church Music’s committee in the Northampton and Peterborough area. In his free time, Laurence enjoys swimming, walks in the countryside, photography and reading about the political and architectural history of Britain, especially churches and public buildings. A member of the National Trust, Laurence enjoys visiting the properties and the surrounding areas.

Sarah Gait - cello

London-based cellist Sarah Gait recently completed a Master of Music degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of professors Guy Johnston and Robert Cohen.

Originally from North Cumbria, Sarah previously graduated with a First Class BMus(Hons) degree from the Royal Northern College of Music. Sarah has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in venues across Europe and the UK, including for BBC Radio 3’s Live in Concert and on Italian Radio 3.

She has featured in Classical Music Magazine and works to promote the role of classical music with young people, currently appearing as Ambassador for the BBC Proms Inspire Scheme.

Sarah is grateful for the support of generous individuals and charitable foundations, including the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Foundation, EMI Music Sound Foundation and BBC Fame Academy. She is also the recipient of prizes including the BBC Proms Young Composer’s Competition, RNCM Weil Prize for Chamber Music, JRNCM Director’s Prize, prize-winner in the RAM Jacob Barnes Prize and RNCM Rosamond Prize (winning performance), and a recently announced finalist of the Cumbria Life Culture Awards.

www.sarahgait.com