Woolwell Community Centre  PPC Workshop – Saturday 18^th April 2026

9.30     Registration and music collection

Morning: James Parkinson

Biography

 James Parkinson BMus (Hons) LRSM AMusTCL

 James Parkinson is an experienced conductor, choral leader and serving Royal Marines Warrant Officer, bringing over thirty years of professional musical and leadership expertise to his work. His musical foundations were formed as a chorister and as a member of the Kent Youth Singers, nurturing a lifelong commitment to choral excellence. A versatile multi instrumentalist, James plays violin and clarinet, and particularly enjoys Irish folk music on the violin, reflecting his wide ranging musical influences.

 James has conducted both civilian and military ensembles, including serving as Musical Director of Plymouth Phoenix Chorale, where he has broadened repertoire and introduced diverse musical styles to challenge and inspire singers. He has performed widely as an instrumentalist and conductor, and has arranged music performed at the Royal Albert Hall during the Mountbatten Festival of Music.

Across his Royal Marines career, James progressed into senior musical leadership roles, culminating as Bandmaster Training at the Royal Marines School of Music, responsible for the musical and professional development of over 100 musicians. He now serves within the Royal Navy Culture Insights Team, advising Command Teams on improving leadership, culture, values and standards across the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

 A qualified Body Control Pilates teacher, James also specialises in musculoskeletal wellbeing for musicians.

10.00 Workshop Session 1            Bach   Jesu, joy of man’s desiring (Sacred Choruses number 2)

11.15 Refreshment Break

11.30 Workshop Session 2            Ola Gjeilo Across the Vast Eternal Sky

12.30 Lunch

Afternoon: Timothy Noon

Biography

Timothy Noon began his musical life as a chorister at Hereford Cathedral, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to choral music. After appointments at Canterbury Cathedral and Christ Church, Oxford, he combined academic distinction with practical musicianship, later serving at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and returning to Canterbury as Assistant Organist, where he also directed The Canterbury Singers.

His first cathedral post as Director of Music was at St Davids Cathedral, where he was also Artistic Director of the cathedral festival and Principal Conductor of the Dyfed Choir. There he conducted major choral-orchestral repertoire, including Verdi’s Requiem and Belshazzar’s Feast, establishing a reputation for dynamic and inspiring leadership.

In 2007 he moved to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, leading the choir in high-profile broadcasts and concerts during the city’s year as European Capital of Culture, including the world premiere of a major work by Peter Maxwell Davies.

After five years as Director of Music at Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, where he worked extensively within New Zealand’s choral community, Timothy returned to the UK in 2016 as Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral. Alongside his cathedral work, he remains active as a conductor, composer, recording artist and choral advocate.

1.30 Workshop Session 3              Richard Blackford Mirror of Perfection

2.45 Refreshment break

3.00 Workshop Session 4              Brahms How lovely is thy dwelling place (Sacred Choruses number 7)

4.00 Workshop Finish

Voting