Mark Duthie

Mark Duthie was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, and during his time as an undergraduate at Aberdeen University was Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist at St Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Aberdeen.

On graduating with First Class Honours in Pure Mathematics he went as a postgraduate mathematics student to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he sang tenor in the Chapel Choir for two years and studied singing with Nigel Wickens and Margaret Humphrey-Clarke.  In 1992 he was appointed Organ Scholar at Chester Cathedral, where he gained experience accompanying the Cathedral Choir and directing the Cathedral Nave Choir.

Mark was appointed Assistant Master of the Music at Peterborough Cathedral in September 1994.  His duties there included accompanying the Cathedral Choir in services, concerts, recordings and broadcasts, and he toured the USA, Norway and France with the Choir.  In 1996 he formed the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, and as its Musical Director was responsible for training the choristers and directing them in services and concerts. 

He moved to Brecon in the summer of 2007 to become Organist and Master of the Music at Brecon Cathedral, and began as Musical Director of the Cathedral Singers in September.  He is also and is an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Meirion Wynn Jones

Meirion Wynn Jones hails from Rhewl, Llangollen and was educated at Wells Cathedral School before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy in London, where he studied piano with Alexander Kelly, organ with Nicholas Danby and organ improvisation by Naji Hakim. While a student he held organ scholarships at Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abby, was prize winner of the Royal Academy of Organists and won a British Gas Young Organist of the Year competition. After holding posts as Organist of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and the Birmingham Oratory, Meirion returned to Wales in 2003 where, living in Abergavenny he was Organist of St Mary’s Priory and worked as a freelance accompanist, singer and teacher. In 2006 he was appointed official accompanist to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

A prolific composer, many of his works have been successful at the National Eisteddfod of Wales (receiving four 1^st prizes in 2001), have been recorded and broadcast on BBC radio, and last year his song, Llyn y Gadair, was the International Eisteddfod’s commissioned work.

In June 2007 Meirion took up the post of Assistant Organist at Brecon Cathedral.