On Sunday 12th January 2025 we were delighted to welcome Will Campbell to the Cathedral, who started as our new Sub-Organist and Assistant Director of Music. We caught up with Will to find out more about him as he begins his time on the Bradford Cathedral staff team, starting with how he started in music.
“I initially got into music as a three-year-old. I started playing the violin first, and then took up the piano a few years later, and then the trumpet after that. I started organ lessons when I was 14 at Wellington College.
“I became involved with Bradford Cathedral because Graham Thorpe (Organist and Director of Music at Bradford Cathedral) was a former organ scholar at Guildford Cathedral, which is where I did my ‘gap-year’ before university.
“I deputised here a couple of times as an organist whilst an undergraduate at the University of York and, since returning to the north having spent two terms as the organ scholar at Canterbury, I have sung in the Cathedral Consort occasionally.”
We asked Will what he most looking forward to during his time in the role.
“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in with the choir. The choir’s going through a bit of a change now, particularly with the separation of the consort and the youth choir. I’m looking forward to working with Graham, and am hoping to see the choir flourish during my time here.”
We ended the chat by asking him what message he’d like to give to the congregation.
“I had a lovely first Sunday and, all I’m going to say is – you won’t be able to miss the organ when I’m playing!”