Who's who

Noel was appointed Organist and Director of Music at All Souls in July 1972.  He started his musical career at Southwark Cathedral, London, where he was Head Chorister.

He then studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he focused on organ and composition.  A few years later, he was made a Professor at the Guildhall, specialising in conducting, orchestration and keyboard skills.

At All Souls he pioneered the move towards the use of orchestral instruments, which culminated in the emergence of the All Souls Orchestra and the now familiar Prom Praise (co-ordinated through Langham Arts), which he presents internationally.

He has conducted and lectured regularly in the USA and Australia. In 1995 he was invited by The Billy Graham Organisation to lead and conduct the music for Mission Ontario at the Sky Dome Stadium in Toronto. He returned to Canada in 1998 for 'Mission Ottawa'.

Noel has contributed to many hymn and songbook publications, and participated in forums such as the 'Music in Worship Foundation' and the Archbishop's Commission on Church Music and its published report 'In Tune with Heaven'.

In recent years, Noel has worked extensively with the BBC. Beginning with conducting engagements with the BBC Radio and Concert Orchestra, leading to writing and presenting a two-part documentary on Oscar Hammerstein for BBC Radio 2 - reflecting his life-long passion for the musical theatre. He has also become a familiar face on BBC TV's 'Songs of Praise' series and filmed two programmes at the Sydney Opera House in preparation for the coverage of the Olympic Games 2000.

Noel is married to Fiona and they have a daughter, Isabel, and a son, James.