Michael Whiteside Director of Music

Michael’s interest in music started at a young age while a pupil at St. Martin’s School, gaining a broad grounding in musical appreciation, singing and the recorder. It was this introduction to music that prompted him to begin piano lessons.

Michael was a pupil at Bournemouth School where, in addition to other subjects, he studied Music at GCSE and A Level as well as developing his performance skills by singing in the choir and providing piano accompaniment for other ensembles. In 2005, he played in the orchestra for the Bournemouth School for Girls production of The Sound of Music. He also won the Geoffrey Thornhill Music prize for two consecutive years.

After completing his A Levels, Michael gained a place to read Music at the University of Southampton, where alongside modules in music history and theory, he is continuing his piano studies under Helen Cawthorne and developing his skills as a conductor with Robin Browning.

Choral singing has been of particular interest to Michael, and as well as directing St. Luke’s Church Choir, he is also currently a member of the Southampton University Chamber Choir and Cantamus, a local Chamber Choir. Prior to commencing his music degree, Michael also sang with the Bournemouth Bach Choir, gaining experience of singing large-scale choral works such as J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor, Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Creation.

Michael was appointed to the post of Director of Music at St. Luke’s Church in February 2009. He is keen to expand the choir, recruiting for vacancies in all voice parts and is introducing new music to the choir complementing the existing repertoire.

Malcolm Wood MCLIP has now retired as Organist and Director of Music, however his biography can still be found here.