The Diocese of Portsmouth is delighted to announce the appointment of Neil Cannon as Choral Director.

Neil’s musical education journey began as a chorister and bandsman at the Royal Hospital School, Ipswich, where his love for singing was first nurtured. He went on to study composition at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, gaining experience in orchestral and choral conducting. With extensive experience as a Director of Music in secondary schools across south London, most recently at Richard Challoner School, New Malden, Neil has led choirs to perform in renowned venues such as Westminster Abbey, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, and internationally at St Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest. His passion goes beyond traditional choral work, having developed community choirs, choral and instrumental scholarship programmes, and a capella groups, and he is always thrilled to hear whole schools in full voice!

Before relocating to the South Coast, Neil served as Director of Music and Minister for Children and Youth at St John’s Church, Hyde Park, and as Assistant Director of Music at St Joseph’s Church, New Malden. Now, as he embarks on a new chapter with the Schools Singing Programme in the Diocese of Portsmouth, Neil is excited to share his passion and engage as many pupils as possible in the transformative power of singing.