The Revd Canon Dr Vicky Johnson

The Revd Canon Dr Vicky Johnson is Precentor of York, and has a passion for the role and place of music in worship.

Vicky leads and oversee the cathedral’s liturgy and music team. Day to day she enables the planning and delivery of worship and music, supporting the work of the Director of Music and the 48 choristers (24 boys and 24 girls) and 12 adult singers of the world-renowned York Minster Choir. She also works with partners in the City of York to explore the development of music outreach in the years ahead.

  Adrian Lucas

Adrian Lucas has been associated with the RSCM for over 50 years, as a chorister, organist, area committee member and chairman, and more recently as Head of Choral Studies and Chief Examiner, the post which he still holds today. He is also a former member of the RSCM Southern Cathedral Singers in Martin How’s time, and a former organ scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge.

Adrian’s expertise covers an extremely wide gamut, including the encouragement and training of new and experienced choristers of all ages, developing skills relating to liturgical development, choir training, organ playing and accompanying, right through to the directorship of a major international music festival and conducting choirs and orchestras on a world stage. His friendly and supportive approach inspires personal development and achievement, whilst being mindful of the very different situations in which individuals work.

As Chief Examiner for the RSCM, Adrian has overseen the introduction and implementation of a brand new awards syllabus in 2021, as well as a raft of online support materials for both candidates and examiners. He also conducts the RSCM Millennium Youth Choir and has been responsible for its musical and spiritual development since 2015.

In addition to his work for the RSCM and freelance musical work, Adrian conducts the City of Birmingham Choir, examines diplomas, classical and jazz for ABRSM, and is the director of Acclaim Productions Ltd.

  Timo Scharnowski

Timo works for Engage Worship, a charity providing training and creative worship resources for churches in the UK and beyond. Before this, Timo worked as a Worship Leader at St Michael’s, Chester Square (together with organist Tom Bell and later Mark Underwood). Timo has a degree in Theology, Music and Worship from London School of Theology and is currently completing an MA in Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London. Together with his wife Gemma he lives near Guildford.

  The Revd Canon Sal McDougall

Sal is the RSCM’s Deputy Director for Education and Mission Delivery. In her role, she supports the work of the Director, and together form the Senior Management Team.

  Hugh Morris

Hugh Morris has been Director of the RSCM since August 2018. His role is to act as CEO of the charity, and as well having direct responsibilities for managerial and strategic leadership, also acts as a public figurehead for the RSCM.

Hugh is himself an accomplished professional musician, with significant experience as a church musician in a wide range of contexts from churches to cathedrals; and also has a background in education, having spent many years working as a qualified teacher.

  Dr Paul Hedley

A lifetime as an accomplished musician and conductor, combined with fifteen years in executive education working with leadership teams internationally prior to joining RSCM, Paul is in a unique position to enable access to this different learning space. Former cathedral Lay Clerk, and Chief Executive of Three Choirs Festival, Paul now combines his senior management role at RSCM with running an executive coaching and leadership development business, alongside musical roles at All Saints Church, Didcot, and Cherwell Choral Society.

  Jonathan Robinson

Jonathan is a former Resident Musician of Iona Abbey where most of the congregation are new each week. He enjoys the challenge of enfolding both regular and stranger into the same song. Before working for the RSCM he was Director of Music at a village megachurch in Sussex where a typical Sunday morning encompassed robed choir and worship band.

  Tim Ruffer

Tim Ruffer, as Head of Publishing, oversees the RSCM’s own published output, including RSCM Press and the magazines (under the Editorship of Stefan Putigny). Publishing also works to directly support the work of the Education and Voluntary Departments.

  Dr Tim Williams

Tim is the Director of Music at St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham and has worked hard to build up choral singing at St Wulfram’s which now has a thriving choir community based at the church. He is also a music educator, organ tutor, and academic.