Biography

Stephen Tanner  began his musical career as a chorister in the choir of Coventry Cathedral and studied for a degree in music at the University of Huddersfield where he became Organ Scholar at Bradford Cathedral. For many years he was Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral School and Assistant Organist and Director of the Girl Choristers at Exeter Cathedral. His school music department enjoyed a wide reputation for the breadth and quality of its music making with many former pupils, including one of the world’s most recognisable pop stars, going on to enjoy national and international success in the music world. He founded the Girl Choristers’ section of Exeter Cathedral Choir in 1994 and directed it for 22 years. In this capacity he has numerous broadcasts, recordings and foreign tours to his credit.  He was musical director of Exeter Cathedral’s nationally recognised Chorister Outreach Project, working to promote singing in Devon's primary schools and is a former Musical Director of the Exeter Choral Society. For seventeen years he was  an examiner for ABRSM, serving on both the main and jazz panels.

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Stephen directs “Isca Voices” a highly acclaimed choral group of former choristers from Exeter Cathedral Choir who perform a wide range of sacred and secular music. Isca Voices have in recent years toured to both Rome and Paris singing in prestigious venues including St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City and La Cathédrale de Notre Dame in Paris. They made a debut recording in 2019. Stephen is accompanist and Associate Director of Music of the Exeter Philharmonic Choir. In 2021 a group was formed from within EPC, the "Pilgrims' Chorus" which makes annual expeditions giving choral concerts whilst walking ancient Pilgrimage Routes for which Stephen is the musical director.  He is Organist and Director of Music at St. Peter’s Church, Budleigh Salterton and is one half of the organ duo Organ2. He has composed and arranged extensively and has won two national composition competitions. In January 2025 Stephen takes up a new appointment as Musical Director of the St David's Singers for whom he has played the organ for weekend singing services at cathedrals around the country.