Who’s Who

Director of Music

Justin Miller is Director of Choral Music at Whitgift School, one of the UK’s leading independent boys’ schools, and Director of Music at Croydon Minster, where he oversees one of the largest and most diverse church music departments in the country. At the Minster, he directs a vibrant programme of choral services, concerts, and partnerships, working with singers of all ages and backgrounds. Under his leadership, the choir has broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3, and collaborated with renowned ensembles including the London Mozart Players and the Oxford Bach Soloists, further cementing the Minster’s reputation as a centre of musical excellence.

A passionate and committed educator, Justin previously spent five years as Specialist Music Coach for the David Ross Education Trust, where he played a key role in developing music provision across a wide network of schools in Northamptonshire. His work included preparing young singers and choruses for collaborative projects with Nevill Holt Opera, Gabrieli Roar, and the Malcolm Arnold Festival, helping to bring high-quality musical experiences to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Alongside his teaching, Justin was Director of Music at St Matthew’s Church, Northampton, a parish with a distinguished musical heritage. There, he continued the church’s celebrated tradition of commissioning new music—begun over 75 years ago with Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb—by leading premieres of works by composers including James Whitbourn, John Bertalot, Grayston Ives, and Robert Walker. Under his direction, the choir undertook several tours both in the UK and internationally.

Earlier in his career, Justin held prestigious posts at several of the UK’s leading cathedral music foundations, including Worcester, Winchester, Ripon, St Albans, and Blackburn Cathedrals, gaining extensive experience in liturgical music, choral training, and organ performance.

Justin completed his formal studies in the United States, earning degrees from Westminster Choir College in Princeton and the Cleveland Institute of Music. As an organist, he has performed widely across the USA, UK, and Europe, appearing in cathedrals, churches, and concert halls. He has also appeared as a concerto soloist with two American orchestras.

Interim Sub Organist

Stephen Disley studied at Liverpool Cathedral before winning a joint Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music and London’s Temple Church, studying with Dr John Birch. He won many prizes and awards, studied further under Daniel Roth at Saint-Sulpice in Paris and has performed in prestigious masterclasses.

As a recitalist and accompanist he has played at Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, King’s College, Cambridge and at festivals in Salisbury, Peterborough, Lichfield, the City of London and at the St Albans International Organ Festival. He has performed and broadcast with ensembles such as the BBC Singers (including a disc of selected anthems commissioned by the Musicians Benevolent Fund), the Holst Singers, the Finzi Singers and the Budapest Radio Choir. Recent performances include Poulenc’s Organ Concerto in Salzburg, Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass in the Montepulciano Festival, Italy, and a Gala Organ Concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrating the refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall Organ.

As an organist Stephen has toured the USA and many parts of Europe and has featured on broadcasts and recordings. He has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus in concerts and recordings, including the world premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio conducted by Carl Davis, Herbert Howells’ English Mass and Hymnus Paradisi, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius conducted by Vernon Handley and Suk’s symphonic poem Praga under Libor Pesek.

Asst Director of Music & Singing Development Leader

Sophie Garbisu studied lyrical singing at the Regional Conservatory of Bordeaux, France, with Maryse Castets. In 2019 she performed with Les Musiciens du Louvre for a tour in West Europe. Having obtained her diploma, she returned to her alma mater to teach Music Theory and ear-training, alongside studying choir conducting. Having discovered a passion for Anglican Church Music, she came to England to develop her expertise in the English Choral tradition. She arrived at Croydon Minster in September 2020 and has sung with the Minster’s choir while assisting the Director of Music. Currently, she holds the post of Assistant Director of Music with responsibility for contributing to the vocal training of the children in the boys’ and girls’ choirs.

Sophie has also taken on the post of Singing Development Leader to develop Croydon Sings! a children’s singing programme that offers enhanced singing support to state primary school children in Croydon who have little or no access to music. In co-ordination with the rest of the Minster music staff, Sophie will deliver the programme to both local schools and the Minster choirs.

Previous Minster Organists

Reunion of former Minster Organists (May 2016): Back Row (left to right): Simon Lole, Dr Peter Nardone. Front Row (left to right): Carl Jackson, David Swinson, Nigel McClintock, Andrew Cantrill, Ronny Krippner.

Before the fire of 1867 records are incomplete, but include:

Thomas Attwood Walmisley 1830-1833

After the fire of 1867

John Rhodes 1857-1868
Frederick Cambridge 1868-1911
F Rowland Tims 1911-1918
H Leslie Smith 1918-1948
Edward Shakespeare 1948-1952
J.A. Rogans (Hon) 1952-1953
B. Aldersea 1952-1957
J.A. Rogans (Hon) 1957-1958
Derek Holman 1958-1965
Roy Massey 1965-1968
Michael Fleming 1968-1978
David Brookshaw 1978-1980
Simon Lole 1980-1985
Carl Jackson 1986-1990
David Swinson 1990-1992
Peter Nardone 1993-2000
Nigel McClintock 2000-2007
Andrew Cantrill 2008–2012
Tom Little (Acting) 2012-2013
Dr Ronny Krippner 2013- 2021

Organists Emeritus

Professor Derek Holman 2011- 2019
Dr Roy Massey MBE 2011-