The Archdiocese of Birmingham is pleased to announce the appointment of Hope Pugh as Choral Director. Hope will visit schools across the Archdiocese as part of its Schools Singing Programme.

Hope’s musical journey began in the Cathedral City of Hereford, where her passion for music was nurtured and developed. She pursued her ambitions at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, earning a degree in Vocal Performance that laid the foundation for a vibrant career in music.

Currently serving as an Alto Lay-clerk at St. Philip’s Cathedral in Birmingham, Hope also holds the position of singing teacher for a Choral Chorister project in the Handsworth, an inner-city area of Birmingham with the largest proportion of its population living in the 10% most deprived areas of England.

Hope managed and organised and ran a production of “Noye’s Fludde” by Benjamin Britten in the summer. This involved 4 schools from Handsworth and professional soloists and orchestra. Her commitment to making music inclusive and accessible is at the heart of her work; she believes in the transformative power of music to foster cultural participation across Birmingham and beyond.

Hope has sung with prestigious choirs and consorts such as Genesis Sixteen, Ex Cathedra, National Youth Choir, Rodolfus Choir and Armonico Consort, as well as being a scholar at renowned venues like Worcester Cathedral and St. Chad’s Cathedral. A celebrated soloist, she has performed major works including Handel’s Messiah, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, and Duruflé’s Requiem, with a memorable debut at Birmingham Town Hall alongside renowned organist Thomas Trotter.

Her contributions to the arts extend beyond the stage. Hope has been featured on television and radio, including a recent appearance on BBC WM, where she discussed her role as a chorister singing teacher and conducted them for the televised BBC Children in Need.

Hope is really enjoying her new role as a Choral Director in the National School’s Singing Programme. Hope continues her work to weave together the diverse communities she serves. Hope is passionate about the profound impact of musical education, believing it has the power to improve life chances for young people and enrich the broader community. Through her work, Hope wants to continue to inspire and uplift, using the sacred gift of music to create lasting change.