John Stephens is a well-established organist, conductor and teacher, based in East Norfolk. He is Director of Music for the Inspiration Trust, where he supports and leads musical development within the trust’s 20 educational settings. This includes teacher training and development, curriculum development and delivery, managing a team of Visiting Music Teachers, and much more. John is a Specialist Leader of Education and regularly advises school leaders locally and nationally, offering advice and specialist training. He has advised the government’s Department of Culture, Media & Sport and the Department for Education as an Expert Advisory Panel member, as well as advising the House of Lords.
Alongside an extensive freelance career as a teacher and performer, John has held positions at the University of East Anglia, Gresham’s School, Great Yarmouth Minster, Norwich Cathedral and the Royal School of Church Music, among others. He has worked in the USA, France and Kenya as a Musical Director. He has conducted many major choral and orchestral works, and directed a long list of musicals in the theatre. John is also an experienced pianist, bassoonist and choral singer, and remains active as a performer in those disciplines, when not in a leading role.
John holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting, a BA(Hons) degree in Music, and the Licentiate of Trinity College London diploma twice over - once as a pianist, and again as an organist, having passed both with distinction. He holds Qualified Teacher Status, and is a Fellow of the Independent Society of Musicians, and has previously been a member of British Actors' Equity.
John has a particular interest in helping young people develop their musicianship through ensemble playing and singing. He founded Norwich Young Voices and The Orchestrate! Project, has conducted the Norfolk Music Service’s Intermediate and County Youth Orchestras, Wymondham Youth Music Society, the University of East Anglia Symphony Orchestra, and has offered conducting courses, residential courses, and many large-scale collaborative concerts to give opportunities to young people, often with in excess of 400 participants.
Through his Limited Company, JS Music Services Ltd, John acts as Local Area Representative for Trinity College London and its exams in music and drama, remotely overseeing exams in 25 centres, spanning much of England.
Through the Inspiration Trust, John offers ‘Orgelkids’ workshops which enable participants of all ages to learn about the workings of a pipe organ by building one for themselves. For more information, please see www.orgelkidsuk.org
To view a complete list of the projects with which John currently involved, please see the 'Projects & Links’ page.