Music at Earley St Peter’s:
Our Vicar and Director of Music are delighted to announce the appointment of John Cobb as the new Organist at Earley St Peter’s.
John writes: I grew up in a village near Gloucester, where my dad was the church organist. He got me started on the organ and I’ve been playing ever since! After singing in a church choir in Gloucester and playing the organ at another church in the city, I went to Exeter University to study Computer Science. At Exeter, I was Organ Scholar of the University Chapel for a year, then Music Director. I also sang in the University Singers and played french horn in the University Symphony Orchestra. My career in software development took me to California for 5 years, where I was organist of an Episcopal church in Foster City, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. Back in the UK, I lived in Canterbury and then Reading, where I became a founder member of Tamesis Chamber Choir, an auditioned choir that sings a wide range of music in concerts around the Reading area and beyond. I’m also organist for Tamesis Cathedral Singers, which sings services at cathedrals within a couple of hours drive of Reading. Recently, I’ve been involved in the music at St Andrew’s in Sonning, singing in the Senior Choir and accompanying the Junior Choir, which my son, Arthur (10), joined in 2024. I’m married to Astrid, and also have a daughter, Freya (14). We live in Wokingham with no pets at the moment, but guinea pigs could be on the horizon as they’re Freya’s current obsession! I also have two grown-up daughters who live in Shropshire, and have a 16-month-old granddaughter. Another grandchild is due in June. After a break of 37 years, I’ve started playing the horn again as a member of the newly formed Wokingham Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s been a bit of a challenge, but I’m slowly getting there! I’m very much looking forward to starting as your organist and contributing to the music at St Peter’s, as well as meeting you all.
John’s first services will be on Sunday 10 May.
We would like to thank the organists who have helped to cover all the services since the beginning of February – Jonathan Bowler, Simon Dinsdale, Ian Westley, and David Price.