Martyn Rawles

Martyn Rawles is Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Lichfield Cathedral, and Musical Director of Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir. He began his musical training as a chorister at St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, subsequently taking up the organ with Anthony Pinel. He was awarded the Burston Organ Scholarship to St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read History, also serving in his final year as Assistant Organist at the church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs. Martyn moved to Gloucester Cathedral as Organ Scholar for two years, working with the cathedral choirs and other local ensembles, before his appointment as Assistant Organist at Winchester College. During his time at the College he gained his FRCO, winning the Durrant, Baker, Harding and Limpus prizes. In September 2007 he returned to Gloucester for a term as Acting Assistant Director of Music, accompanying the cathedral choir and choral society, directing the Cathedral Youth Choir, and appearing on BBC Radios 2, 3 and 4.

In January 2008 he took up the position of Sub-Organist at Lichfield, where he works with the choirs of the Cathedral and Cathedral School, assists with the musical outreach programs, and accompanies the Cathedral's Special Choir. He also directs the Cathedral's Chamber Choir, who are in great demand for concerts, services and broadcasts, resulting in appearances in London; Lichfield; The National Memorial Arboretum; Derbyshire; and on BBC Radios 2 and 4 this year alone. Martyn serves on the visiting music staff at Lichfield Cathedral and Shrewsbury Schools. He is a busy solo recitalist - recent venues have included Gloucester, Hereford, and Southwark Cathedrals, Cheltenham Town Hall, St. John's College, Cambridge, and the Bavokerk in Haarlem. In 2008 he was awarded a silver medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Extra-musical enthusiasms continue to include medieval history, attempting to cook, and long pub walks on sunny days.