MASTER OF CHORISTERS
Simon Bell is Director of the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum of Dean Close Preparatory School and Director of Choral Music and Organist at Dean Close School.
Chorister Staff
Simon has held a number of prestigious appointments prior to coming to Dean Close at some of this country’s most famous Cathedrals and churches, including Southwell Minster, Westminster Abbey and St Albans Cathedral. His most recent post was as Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral, which included working with all the Cathedral choirs and accompanying them in the daily round of services, recordings, broadcasts and tours. During this time he was also accompanist to the Waynflete Singers in Winchester and taught the organ for Southampton University and Winchester College.
Simon is a graduate of Leeds University and the Royal College of Music where he studied for a post graduate degree in Organ Performance. He was a prize winner at the coveted St Albans International Organ Festival in 2001 and 2005, and is also a past Limpus Prize winner in the FRCO Diploma Examination. He is a former holder of the WT Best Memorial Organ Scholarship, awarded by the Worshipful Company of Musicians and studied the organ with Gordon Stewart, Margaret Phillips and Ben van Oosten.
At Dean Close, Simon is not only responsible for the recruitment and training of the choristers in the Schola Cantorum, but also for the choral music in the Senior School. He directs the Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir and Choral Society. In 2014, he led the process of the design and installation of the new organ in the School Chapel, and teaches the organ in the Senior School Music Department.
The Master of Choristers Simon Bell is supported by:
- Mr D Stephens-Jones (Organ Scholar)
- Mr S Lake (Choral Scholar)
- Mrs J Lyons (Chorister Tutor)
- Mr B Sawyer (Chorister Vocal Coach)
Pre-Preparatory (2-7)
Pre-Preparatory (2-7)
Dean Close Pre-Preparatory School, fondly known as the ‘Squirrels’, is set in the beautiful grounds of Dean Close School, in a modern, purpose-built building. We have excellent facilities and resources and also benefit from being able to share in the outstanding Preparatory and Senior School facilities on site. We understand that a child’s first experience of school is a vital step in their learning journey, developing the knowledge, skills and self-confidence which lay the foundations for their lives.
Preparatory School (7-13)
Preparatory School (7-13)
Dean Close Preparatory School is a co-educational day and boarding school for children age 7 – 13. The school is set in 50 acres of private land near the centre of Cheltenham. With 310 pupils, the Preparatory School is small enough to allow everyone to know one another and get fully involved in the life of the School.
Senior (13-18)
Senior (13-18)
Set in 50 beautiful acres, Dean Close is a long-standing co-educational day and boarding school for 13-18 year olds, where visitors regularly comment on the atmosphere, saying how warm and friendly they find it.
