Student Success

Barnaby Silverstone - Organ Scholar
Primarily a singer, recorder player and pianist, Barnaby started learning the organ in 2019 at St Mary’s Osterley where he regularly played, and made swift progress at St. Mary Magdalene Richmond having regular lessons with Karl Dorman and Alex Knight.

Aside from the organ, Barnaby has also sung at many Cathedrals across the UK with the University of London Church Choir and The Whyte Effect choir, as well as playing regularly with the National Youth Recorder Orchestra, where he has been tutored by Annabel Knight. More recently he has played the recorder in award winning composer Ashley Thompson’s theatre production ‘Greenwood Dreams’ with the Claybody Theatre. Barnaby also learnt and played the piano at his secondary school Twyford C of E High School, where he did occasional accompaniment.

Barnaby is on the undergraduate BMus course at the Royal College of Music with his principal study being the organ. He has recently completed two years as organ scholar at St Mary Magdalene Richmond and a further year at St. Mary’s Barnes. Barnaby is now Organ scholar at Hampton Court.

Improvisation

“I loved the service this morning. The organ voluntaries really lifted my spirit, especially the opening improvisation which was so thoughtfully constructed and played.”

Berendina Norton, Prof. of Academic Music and Pianoforte, Royal Millitary School of Music

Musicianship & Service

“You are an excellent musician and exemplary individual. Beddington’s immense loss”

David Pipe - formerly RCO training programme, Leeds & Cathedral Organist

“That was a stunning performance, devoid of mere show but full of real panache and musicality. You played every note and phrase as though you were born with them in your fingers and feet. There was a wonderful fluidity of style that did not detract from the rhythmic impulse, thus preserving the forward motion and overall shape of the music”

B.W.

Student Success

Catherine Harris began her choral training aged eight at Kingston Parish Church under the leadership of Simon Toyne. In the same year she started learning the piano and cello. Catherine was first introduced to the organ as Head Chorister at St Dunstan’s Church and subsequently became organ scholar at St Nicholas Sutton and St Mary’s Beddington. In this role she received organ lessons from Karl Dorman, gaining valuable playing experience and helping to direct St Mary’s Girls Choir. She is a member of the London Philharmonic Choir and has performed with the Ripieno choir under the direction of David Hansell. Catherine studied for a B.A. in Music at the University of Leeds and spent a year as organ scholar at the Cathedral.

Catherine Harris – Organ Scholar https://youtu.be/rpBvgJYIsxU

Oscar Golden - Lee was a Tenor Choral Scholar at St. Mary's Beddington during his time as a sixth former at Wimbledon College. 

He has since finished Choral Scholarships at Wells and Lincoln Cathedrals. Oscar is now in London as a freelance singer and performs with many renowned ensembles including the Tallis Scholars, the Sixteen and Ex-Cathedra. https://youtu.be/ahR63UxT7xY

Lorenzo Bennett studied A-Level music at Wimbledon College with Ifor Thomas and Julian Reynolds. He learned the organ with Karl Dorman until 2021 and has been organ scholar at the Sacred Heart Wimbledon and Richmond Parish Church. He has recently finished reading music at Cambridge university, combining studies with an organ scholarship, and now has organ lessons with Stephen Farr and Margaret Phillips. Lorenzo maintains a relationship with the music department at Wimbledon College and is organist at Richmond Catholic Church.

“Karl is a first class teacher at all levels, including University scholarship preparation. Our students have consistently given us excellent feedback on his teaching. His reputation is such that new students have requested him as a teacher and our cohort of active practical music students has grown. This is clearly a testament to his outstanding qualities as a musician and educator”

Julian Reynolds, Assistant Director of Music, Wimbledon College / International Conductor

Piano Teacher, New Malden

“Karl has been my piano teacher since I was 8 years old. He’s tutored me through my grades 2-7 piano exams and helped me to achieve good marks. We are currently working towards grade 8.

I don’t enjoy music theory, so we always do that first - Karl assures me it will help me one day!

I love singing and Karl invited me to join the boys’ choir at St Mary’s Beddington. I participated in some memorable performances. This gave me the confidence to audition as Oliver in my school performance. I really enjoyed being the lead role.”

Dexter Porter, New Malden