Chapel Personnel
Who's Who?
THE DEAN, Gregory Seach, is responsible for the conduct of services in Chapel, and has a pastoral rôle among the Fellows, staff, students (undergraduate and graduate) and all members of the College. He is an Anglican priest, and as a Fellow of Clare, is Director-of-Studies in Theology and Religious Studies. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, his first degree was in English Literature from the University of Sydney. He then taught English, History and Drama for ten years, before moving to Melbourne to begin theological study at Trinity College, University of Melbourne and through the Melbourne College of Divinity. He was ordained and served his curacy in the Diocese of Melbourne, before coming to Cambridge as a graduate student, combining his two ‘former lives’ with studies in theology and literature. Gregory first came to Clare as Decani Scholar from 2006-7 and is delighted to return as Dean.
THE DECANI SCHOLAR, Alexander Hampton, assists the Dean in the life of the Chapel. He is presently a PhD student in the Faculty of Divinity, working on religious aesthetics in Romantic period Germany. This historical work is situated within his wider interests of imagination and myth in the Platonic tradition, and re-enchantment in postmodernity. Alex is originally from Toronto, Canada, where he completed his BA in Literary Studies and Philosophy at Trinity College, University of Toronto. He has also studied at Stanford for an MA in Religious Studies, and wrote his MPhil on the Romantic philosophical theology of Coleridge at Oriel College, Oxford (Clare's sister college). Outside of Clare, Alex is the Treasurer of the Fitzwilliam Museum Society, one of his favourite places in Cambridge, and enjoys rambling on the Fens and mountaineering on the Continent.
THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, Graham Ross, is a composer and conductor of a wide range of repertoire, he has had works performed throughout Europe and beyond. A passionate believer in the unveiling of both unjustly-neglected and newly-penned works, he has given numerous first performances as both a pianist and conductor of a very broad spectrum of composers.
He is Principal Conductor/co-founder of The Dmitri Ensemble, with whom he has explored in particular many rarely performed and newly-composed works, and recorded works by James MacMillan (Naxos),Vaughan Williams (Albion Records), Judith Bingham (Signum) and Giles Swayne (Naxos). He guest conducts ensembles and orchestras across the UK and beyond, and is increasingly involved in the field of opera, having conducted in Jerusalem, Aldeburgh, Provence, Glyndebourne and beyond. He holds a special relationship with Aalborg Symfoniorkester, Denmark, where he has appeared many times as guest conductor.
As a composer recent performances have been given by, amongst others, Aurora Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, O Duo, and the Solstice Quartet, at festivals including Edington, Musique-Cordiale, Three Choirs and London Contemporary Church Music Festivals.
THE CHAPEL ADMINISTRATOR, Kate Littlechild, is responsible for running the day-to-day administration of the Chapel, including all Chapel bookings, producing service sheets and co-ordinating extra and special services. In addition she plays a large part in helping the Director of Music administratively with the musical side of Chapel and in particular with the Chapel Choir. She also looks after the Bennett Room in Memorial Court. Her Quaker upbringing and musical hobbies as a child – she plays the piano and the violin - have provided her with experiences relevant to the job she is doing. She read Spanish at Nottingham University, and her past jobs have included working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council. She enjoys contact with people. Kate is married to Tony, and they have three children. She works out regularly at the gym, listens to all types of music, enjoys foreign travel, and is at present researching her family history.
THE CHOIR ADMINISTRATOR, Nicholas Mogg, manages the Choir's external engagements together with the day to day administration of the Choir. Nicholas was a student at the Manchester Grammar School and the Royal Northern College of Music before he read music at Clare. He was a Choral Scholar under Tim Brown and Graham Ross and is delighted to be singing with the choir for a fourth year. Alongside much singing in Cambridge and London with the choir and the notable close-harmony group, Over the Bridge, Nicholas enjoys football and is an avid Manchester United supporter.
THE SIR WILLIAM McKIE ORGAN SCHOLAR, Nicolas is in his final year reading music at Clare College. His musical education began at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where he studied organ with Clive Driskill-Smith and Christian Wilson, before going to Winchester College to learn with Christopher Tolley and Malcolm Archer. At present he studies with James McVinnie and Douglas Hollick. Outside of his regular duties in the College chapel, Nicolas has performed at various venues in the UK including St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, St. John’s, Smith Square, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Belfast, Coventry Cathedral and Liverpool Cathedral. Projects for 2012 include a solo recital in Gloucester Cathedral, and performances of Haydn’s Die Schöpfung.
THE GEORGE LAW ORGAN SCHOLAR, Peter Harrison, studied the organ at Winchester College, where he was an academic and music scholar. At Winchester he studied under Christopher Tolley, Paul Provost and Malcolm Archer, and he has studied in France under Erwan le Prado, Marie-Louise Langlais and Sylvie Mallet. He is now in his first year of reading music, and is studying the organ with Jamie McVinnie and Douglas Hollick.