Karl Dorman Biography
Karl Dorman (b. 1982) is Senior Organist for the College of the Sacred Heart, Wimbledon. The College is affiliated to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Edge Hill and undertakes all its major liturgies there accompanied by the recently restored 50 stop 1912 Walker organ.
In April 2019 Karl joined the music staff of Richmond Parish Church (St. Mary Magdalene). This listed church maintains a highly traditional pattern of worship in which music reflects a commensurate status and combines it with a competent standard of choral embellishment. Karl resigned shortly after Director of Music, Alex Knight, left to be organ scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral in September 2023.
Karl then assisted at churches in Ham and Petersham.
In November 2024 Karl embarked on the role as Acting Director of Music at St. Mary’s Sanderstead.
Karl began his training as a chorister at Rugby Parish Church under the leadership of Arnold Pugh. Kevin Bulmer, St Marie’s, was also of great help. He was later selected to be the Organ Scholar at the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick. Karl also received much support from Peter Crook, George Bevan and the Rugby School Music Department. During this period he was fortunate to play the Poulenc Organ Concerto with the Warwickshire County Youth Orchestra as part of the Warwick Music Festival.
Music studies and training
Karl was awarded an Eric Thompson Trust scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Patrick Russill and Nicolas Kynaston. Whilst a student at the RAM he was winner of the United Music Publishers Organ Ensemble Prize. Karl concluded his studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Accompanist and Director
In September 2005 he succeeded Kerry Beaumont as a Deputy Organist at Guildford Cathedral where regularly he deputised for the then Sub Organist, David Davies, under the leadership of Stephen Farr. Sadly a period of poor health meant he had to resign this post. He was simultaneously appointed Organist & Director of Music at Merton Parish Church. After a short break his health was restored and he returned to this post and enjoyed it hugely engaging in several choir tours in the UK and Germany as well as conducting two professionally produced recordings.
Karl at the old console of Merton PC
Karl became Organist & Director of Music at Beddington Parish Church in 2011. He initiated the separate girls' choir, accompanied the ladies' choir and was custodian of the fine 1869 Lewis organ as well as the choir of boys and backrow. This choir was awarded a grant from the Reginald Arthur Baker Trust in 2013.
The music department and liturgy represented a semi cathedral tradition with BCP Choral Evensong every Sunday during term time, frequent choral settings of the Mass for ‘high days’ all supported by a repertoire of Motets from across several centuries. On occasions the choir would sing Choral Mattins to celebrate anniversaries, such as that of the King James Bible in 2011 or Trinity Sunday in 2017. The eleven boys and eleven girls represented a major part of the youth work in the parish. For major services the choirs would combine. The backrow (Two Sopranos, Two Lady Altos, Two Tenors and Two Basses) was frequently augmented with professional support thanks to the choir fund. Karl resigned on Remembrance Sunday 2018. Since his departure the boys and girls have been merged into a “trebles” choir. Choral direction has been awarded to a retired music teacher on a voluntary basis. The Ladies’ Choir has also been amalgamated and now the music department is considerably smaller numbering approximately 16 singers in total.
Karl is a committed Christian in sympathy with the ethos of the Church of England and aligned with the values of the Jesuit Order.
Experience & Teaching
Karl was associate conductor and accompanist to the chamber choir Sine Nomine for a period of ten years (2003-13). This enabled him to perform in many of the UK's most precious places of worship including St Paul's and York Minster. He has broadcast on BBC radio as a choral singer under the leadership of Paul Leddington Wright, played the organ for a Channel 4 programme and conducted plainsong featured on ITV. Karl was chorus-master, in succession to Peter Crook, of the Rugby School Philharmonic (2007-9). He taught organ at King's College School Wimbledon in 2013 following Ronny Krippner’s departure prior to the appointment of Carl Jackson in addition to his role as an organist & music tutor at The College of the Sacred Heart (Wimbledon College) a post he has held since January 2009.
Karl also maintains a busy private tuition timetable. For availability do get in touch.
Rugby Philharmonic, Temple Speech Room, Rugby School https://www.rugbyphilharmonic.org.uk/html/history_of_the_phil_.html
Merton PC Choir 2008
Boys and Girls voices together for the Patronal Festival at Beddington PC 2016
