Acting Choral Director
Harry Kirby is Acting Choral Director at Clifton Cathedral, directing the Cathedral Choir from September 2026. The post of Choral Director will be advertised nationally in the autumn of 2026, with an appointment expected in January 2027.
Harry is no stranger to Clifton: he joined the Cathedral Choir as a Choral Scholar in 2018 and was until recently a Choral Exhibitioner. His passion for conducting began under Adrian Partington at Gloucester Cathedral, where he sang in the youth choir. After moving to Bristol for university he conducted the University Chamber Choir and then the Bristol University Madrigal Ensemble, leading tours to Cornwall and Slovenia and performing at St George’s, Bristol.
Since 2022 he has been Assistant Conductor of Nailsea Choral Society, with whom he conducted Haydn’s Nelson Mass in December 2025. In 2024 he founded Acopla, a Bristol-based chamber choir of young singers, which has toured to St Davids Cathedral in each of the last three years and has recently completed its first recording.
Harry succeeds Dr David Bednall, who stepped down as Choral Director in September 2026. We thank David for his dedicated service, commitment and contribution to the musical life of the Cathedral, and wish him well.
Singers interested in joining the Cathedral Choir, or in a Choral Scholarship or Exhibition, are welcome to contact Harry at choir@cliftonms.com. See also the scholarships page.