Jonathan Allsopp – Accompanist

Jonathan Allsopp is Assistant Director of Music at Southwell Minster; in this role, he is the principal accompanist to the Cathedral Choir, playing for all services in the Minster. He also regularly conducts the Cathedral Choir, and directs the Minster Chorale, the Cathedral’s adult voluntary choir. He oversees both the annual organ recital series, and Music in the State Chamber, a series in support of Southwell Minster Choir Association which promotes, in particular, young and local musicians. 

Before coming to Southwell in 2019, Jonathan was Organ Scholar at Westminster Cathedral, where he accompanied and regularly conducted the world-famous Catholic cathedral choir; he was also Acting Assistant Master of Music for a term. Prior to this, he was Organ Scholar at Durham Cathedral while studying for a degree in Music, and directed the Chapel Choir of Hatfield College, with whom he organised tours to Germany, Canada and the USA. Before Durham, he was Organ Scholar at Hereford Cathedral, where he performed in the 2014 Three Choirs Festival in Worcester.

Alongside Southwell, Jonathan maintains an active freelance career. He has given organ recitals in cathedrals and churches across the country, as well as in Holland and Canada; recent performances have included St Albans, Lichfield, Westminster and Truro cathedrals. He gives annual performances of Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur and Messe de la Pentecôte at Southwell, and has given first performances of works by Francis Jackson, Roxanna Panufnik and David Loxley-Blount.

He also works regularly with choral societies; he is accompanist to Nottingham Harmonic Choir, and as a conductor, founded the Dunelm Consort and Players in Durham, giving performances of several choral works by Bach and Handel. He directs an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Minster Chorale and the Musical and Amicable Society in Southwell Minster.

Jonathan began the organ with Ronny Krippner while at school; he is currently taught by Tom Bell. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.