Tansy Castledine – Director of Music

Tansy Castledine took up the post as Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral in September 2018. 

Tansy began her musical studies as the Parry Wood Organ Scholar at Exeter College, Oxford, following which she gained her MMus with Distinction in Choral Direction and Church Music from the Royal Academy of Music, winning all the major prizes for Choral Direction. Following this, Tansy worked with Finchley Children’s Music Group and became Director of Music at Belmont, Mill Hill Prep School, and St Paul’s Church, Mill Hill. Between 2004 and 2008 Tansy served as Visiting Lecturer and Director of the Chamber Choir at London City University, before becoming Director of Music at St George’s College, Weybridge in September 2007. Under Tansy’s direction, St George’s College Chamber Choir achieved unprecedented national success, winning both the BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir of the Year Competition and the Barnardo’s National Choir Competition in 2012, and being a finalist in the BBC Competition in 2016. Choral engagements included concerts at the Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, and St Martin-in-the-Fields, performing on BBC television and Radio 3 and 4, and directing four CD recordings.

Between 2012 and 2018 Tansy was Organist and Director of Music at St Mark's, Hamilton Terrace, NW8, prior to taking up her posts in Peterborough; Tansy is also Musical Director of Peterborough and Ramsey Choral Societies. Additionally she works for the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) as a Course Director and Singing Examiner, and has worked on programmes broadcast on ITV and Channel 4, and BBC Radio 2, 3, and the World Service. Tansy is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and in February 2013 she was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for distinguished service to the choral music and education professions. In November 2013 she was appointed Subject Specialist Inspector for Music by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI), in 2014 was elected President (2015-2016) of the MMA, the UK's largest and longest established association of music teaching professionals, and in 2017 gained the NPQSL qualification in Senior Leadership.

Christopher Strange - Organist

Christopher took up the post of Cathedral Organist in September 2020.

As Cathedral Organist, Christopher is the principal accompanist to the Cathedral Choir in their daily services, concerts, tours and recordings as well as assisting in the training and direction of the boy and girl choristers.

Prior to this, Christopher was Assisting Organist at York Minster during which time he shared in the training and accompanying of the Minster Choir, including a short period as acting Assistant Director of Music.  While at York he worked with numerous choirs including the Chapter House Choir and the Ebor Singers.

Christopher began studying the organ with Shean Bowers and David Poulter before attending Chetham’s School of Music where he studied with Christopher Stokes.  He took up the Sydney Nicholson organ scholarship at Manchester Cathedral in his gap year before beginning studies at the Royal College of Music with Margaret Philips and Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin.  Before graduating with a first class honours degree, Christopher held the organ scholarships at Grosvenor Chapel and Chelmsford Cathedral for two years, during which time he obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists winning all the available prizes.  

Sarah Collister - Music Department Administrator

Sarah Burston - Singing Teacher

Sarah Burston is a freelance teacher and conductor who studied music at Royal Holloway, University of London, where her love of choral music grew through singing in the renowned Chapel Choir.  Sarah completed an MA in Professional Practice (Voice Pedagogy) in November 2019 and in 2020 she qualified as a Vocal Health First Aider.  Sarah continues to study vocal health through Vocal Health Education.

Sarah has a portfolio of work which includes this role and her role as Chorister Singing Teacher here, her freelance singing teaching and conducting work, and also teaching Musicianship at London Youth Conservatoire.  Sarah is an experienced vocal coach and choral conductor having worked with many choirs including the award-winning Farnham Youth Choir and the choirs at the Royal College of Music Junior Department.

Adam Heron, Organ Scholar

As Organ Scholar Adam has a significant role in accompanying and training the Cathedral Choir, acting as Choir Librarian, and supporting all aspects of the day-to-day running of the department.

Adam grew up in Durham, beginning piano lessons aged 8 and later started learning the organ at age 18. Adam studied engineering at the University of Sheffield, during which he continued his musical interest through choral singing and working as a freelance organist. After graduating in 2021 he moved back to Durham and worked full time renewable energy, alongside which he maintained a busy schedule of freelance musical work. In 2024 Adam decided to pursue a full-time career in music and in September 2024 took up his current position at the Cathedral.

Adam also enjoys composing in his spare time and has had success in composition competitions run by Beauty in Sound, Leeds based publisher Tim Knight Music, and Blackburn Cathedral.

Adam holds a master’s degree in engineering and is an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music.

Further information

For further details about the Music Department at the Cathedral, please contact:

Music Administrator
music@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk