Martyn Rawles is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Lichfield Cathedral, in which role he acts as the principal accompanist for the Choral Foundation, and Musical Director of Lichfield Cathedral’s 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, working with the choirs of the Cathedral and Cathedral School, assisting with the musical outreach programs, and accompanying the Cathedral’s Chorus. In September 2010 he became Organist. Martyn has been a member of the visiting music staff at Shrewsbury and Lichfield Cathedral schools, as well as a Junior Fellow at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and has been accompanist to the Birmingham Bach Choir since 2009. For nine years he was also accompanist to Lichfield Cathedral’s Chorus. In 2008 he was awarded a silver medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He is President of the Lichfield and District Organists’ Association, Musical Director for the RSCM Northern Cathedral Singers and the RSCM's Residentiary Choir, and is the Secretary for the Association of Assistant Cathedral Organists.