About the Musical Director

Born in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, Paul Ellis studied at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where his tutors included Gillian Weir (organ) and Robert Elliott (harpsichord). Discovering a love of choral music whilst at university, Paul’s career has been dominated by choral conducting, working with many choirs in the South West and earning a reputation for high standards of performance and innovative programming of an extensive range of music, from Renaissance to contemporary.

As an organist, Paul has given numerous organ recitals, both in this country and abroad. Venues include Southwell Minster, Blackburn Cathedral, St George's, Bristol, Hanover Square, London, St Stephen's Walbrook, London, Manchester Town Hall and Notre Dame, Paris.

Paul was previously conductor of the Grange Choral Society in Christchurch for twelve years, of Taunton Camerata and of Sherborne School Music Society, under whose directorship it established a reputation for high standards of choral singing, giving polished performances of many major choral works, in particular those by Elgar. Paul has also been Chorusmaster to Dorset Opera and Associate Conductor to the 1994 Reigate Summer School. He has also conducted the Dorset Guild of Singers in the Wessex Hall, Poole in performances of Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Israel in Egypt. More recently he has led workshops on South American Baroque music for the South West Early Music Forum.

Paul has conducted Sherborne Chamber Choir for much of its existence, and with them has given many highly acclaimed performances, both a cappella and with orchestra, in Sherborne Abbey and further afield, including Westminster, Notre Dame and Sienna Cathedrals. Since September 2004 he has also been Musical Director of the Liskeard based East Cornwall Bach Choir. He has conducted the Sherborne Festival Chorus since its formation in 2006, giving annual performances with them in Sherborne Abbey Festival of major choral works. He He is also Director of Music of Sherborne Abbey, where he is responsible for its choir of men and boys.