The Music Director
- Stephen Hope
Stephen Hope was appointed the Choir's Music Director in 2002. He was educated at The Cathedral Choir School and the King's School, Canterbury, before continuing his training as organ scholar at Bristol University. Since then, he has worked extensively as both a pianist and conductor with a number of societies and orchestras including English National Orchestra, English Northern Philharmonia, London City Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with such artists as Marilyn Hill Smith, John Noble, Frank Edgerton, Jack Byrmer, Ronald Smith, Sir Harry Secombe, Clarence Myerscough and Roy Castle.
In 1989 Stephen was awarded a coveted Fellowship to the Conductors' Institute of America where he studied with a number of distinguished conductors including Morton Gould, Daniel Lewis, Lukas Foss and Harold Faberman. He has worked extensively in the theatre and conducted highly acclaimed performances of Nabucco, Masked Ball, Carmen and Turandot with Bel Canto Festival Opera during his 4 years as their Music Director.
Stephen regularly engages orchestras and artists for shows and concerts and has broadcasted on Clasic FM and LBC. He maintains a parallel career as organist in his posts as Director of Music at St. John's, Belmont and the Streatham Liberal Synagogue, as well as being a member of the music staff of Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom.
In 2002 Stephen formed the Sinfonia da Chiesa and May 2003 founded the Sussex Festival Choir; together they have performed a major choral work each year since in the surroundings of Arundel Cathedral. In June 2007 he undertook a concert tour with 80 singers and instrumentalists to Venice receiving an enthusiatic reception from Italians and visitors to the City.
Last Modified: February 2008