Music Centre staff
Director of Music and Reader in Music
Michael Downes
Michael Downes became the University's first full-time Director of Music in 2008, having previously held a similar post at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He read English and Music at King's College, Cambridge, and completed a doctorate on Debussy at the University of Sussex. He studied the cello with teachers including Ioan Davies and Timothy Mason and conducted with teachers including Lionel Friend and Colin Metters. Before moving to Scotland, he conducted numerous choral, operatic, orchestral and contemporary music groups in London and the South-East.
Full biography
- Email:
- directorofmusic@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
- Website:
- Michael Downes' research profile
Deputy Director of Music and Senior Lecturer in Music
Bede Williams
Bede first started working at the Music Centre in 2010 as an Associate Teacher of trumpet. In 2012 he was appointed as an Associate Lecturer and New Music Coordinator and in 2017 became Head of Instrumental Studies. In 2023 he was appointed Deputy Director of Music, leading a large team of teaching, outreach and administration staff. He teaches on a broad range of modules including Music Leadership and Ethnomusicology, as well as modules that incorporate performance, composition and chamber music. With Michael Downes he shares the conducting of the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra and a range of other ensembles. He is Director of StAMP (St Andrews Music Participation), a philanthropically funded project that aims to reinvigorate brass playing across Fife by working with schools and brass bands. As a soloist and chamber musician he has toured and recorded widely and is known for his work with many distinguished composers. Notable premieres include concertos by Jeremy Thurlow, Eve De Castro Robinson and Ian McQueen. He was made a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2023 and in 2024 became the chairperson of the Glasgow Barons, a multi-genre music charity working in Govan. For more information see www.bedewilliams.com
- Email:
- bw23@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2234
- Website:
- Bede Williams' research profile
- Biography:
- Full biography
Administrative Assistant
Moana Berberat
Our Administrative Assistants are the face of the Music Centre in the evenings and at weekends, providing a warm welcome to all our visitors and members and helping them to access our services.
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Head of Programming
Chris Bragg
Chris is responsible for all concert management within the Music Centre as well as managing the Chamber Orchestra and scholarship ensembles. Prior to coming to St Andrews, Chris worked for the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. An organist by training, he completed degrees at the former RSAMD and the Amsterdam Conservatory and still enjoys performing and teaching. He is also active as a translator and writer.
- Email:
- cjb30@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Music Centre Administrator
Ruth Carr
Ruth administers the day-to-day operation of the Music Centre. She also assists with administrative aspects of the Summer Organ Week and other Music Centre summer courses.
- Email:
- rac10@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Music Consultant
Gillian Craig
Gillian Craig directs the St Andrews and Fife Community Orchestra (StAFCO), the St Andrews Renaissance Singers and the Heisenberg Ensemble. She teaches regular classes for the Open Association and is involved with auditioning, interviewing, ensemble coaching and individual coaching.
- Email:
- gc5@st-andrews.ac.uk
Lecturer and Coordinator of Academic Music
Michael Ferguson
Michael is programme co-director of the MLitt in Sacred Music degree and teaches on 'Words and Music', 'Understanding Music', 'Making Music' and 'Electronic Music'. As Coordinator of Academic Music, he is responsible for overseeing the running of the Music Centre's undergraduate academic modules.
- Email:
- mcjf@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2234
- Website:
- Michael Ferguson's research profile
Music Centre Manager
Helen Gregory
Helen oversees the operation of the Music Centre, its services and facilities. She is responsible for the centre’s finance systems and manages the Strings in Spring chamber music course.
- Email:
- hjg10@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Early Career Music Outreach Fellow
Stephanie Humphreys
- Email:
- sgh9@st-andrews.ac.uk
Director of Chapel Music
Claire Innes-Hopkins
- Email:
- ceih1@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2237
Head of Music Technology
Jonathan Kemp
Jonathan is module coordinator for 'Physics of Music', 'Electronic Music' and 'Scottish Music' and is in charge of maintaining the electronic music studio in the Laidlaw Music Centre. He also leads the Music Centre's jazz, funk, rock, fusion band, St Andrews Fusion.
- Email:
- jk50@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2145
- Website:
- Jonathan Kemp's research profile
Academic Administrator
Diane Lyons
Diane provides administrative support for the ten undergraduate modules.
- Email:
- del1@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2233
Deputy University Organist
Andrew Macintosh
Andrew is responsible for wedding music in the University chapels. He plays for most weddings in the University and advises wedding couples on the music for their ceremonies.
- Email:
- ajrm@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Head of Vocal Studies
Jonathan May
Jonathan leads a team of visiting voice teachers who deliver approximately 100 voice lessons per week. He has overall responsibility for matters vocal within the Music Centre and in academic modules. He is Company Manager, Voice Coach and Dramaturge for Byre Opera and one of two Careers Link representatives for the Music Centre.
- Email:
- jhm22@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Graduate Trainee
James McNinch
James is responsible for developing student and community engagement opportunities including StAFCO, masterclasses and workshops, as well as assisting with concert planning.
- Email:
- jm468@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2199
Administrative Assistant
Frances Molyneux
Our Administrative Assistants are the face of the Music Centre in the evenings and at weekends, providing a warm welcome to all our visitors and members and helping them to access our services.
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2226
Lecturer (Education Focussed) and Adviser of Studies
Jane Pettegree
Jane coordinates first year modules 'Understanding Music', 'Words and Music' and 'Introduction to Ethnomusicology'. She teaches on 'Scottish Music' and has an online blog called Soundyings: Conversations on the History of Scottish Music in which she (and others) post about about everything from medieval plainchant to accordion dance bands to post-punk pop – see https://soundyngs.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/. She also contributes to the Sacred Music MLitt programme, and to interdisciplinary teaching in other units and summer schools. Outside of the University, she directs the choir at St Andrews Episcopal Church, and is involved in the Royal School of Church Music’s Scottish area membership events.
- Email:
- jkp1@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2239
- Website:
- Jane Pettegree's research profile
Head of Outreach
Ellen Thomson
Ellen is responsible for devising music outreach projects across Fife working with a range of different community partners and schools. She also collaborates with departments across the University on public engagement initiatives and involves students in the delivery of projects when possible.
- Email:
- eef1@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2233
Associate Lecturer and University Organist
Tom Wilkinson
As an associate lecturer, Tom teaches on the Sacred Music MLitt and a variety of undergraduate modules. As University Organist, he teaches the organ scholars and plays for graduations.
- Email:
- taw21@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Phone:
- +44 (0)1334 46 2237
- Website:
- Tom Wilkinson's research profile