In 1981 Tim was elected as Organ Scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge where he obtained his degree in Music. As Organ Scholar, he was organist in the College Chapel and conductor of the Chapel Choir and other musical groups in the college. He studied the organ with Nicolas Kynaston. Tim completed his time at Cambridge by obtaining the Post Graduate Certificate of Education.

After a year in which he taught at his former school and came to the USA to give some organ recitals, Tim was appointed Assistant Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral in Essex in 1986, a position he combined with a full time teaching post. In the five years Tim was at Chelmsford, the Cathedral Choir made two commercial recordings and was featured on television and radio, including 11 broadcasts of Choral Evensong. Tim’s playing was highly acclaimed.

In 1991, Tim crossed the Irish Sea and began his appointment as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Tim revived and maintained the Cathedral choir of men and boys and was intimately involved in the initial planning of a new Cathedral Organ.

With the peace process still a few years away, Tim became firm friends with his counterpart at Derry’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Donal Doherty, and they founded the Two Cathedrals Festival—a major cross-community initiative that became Northern Ireland’s premier music festival. The Festival attracted international artists of the caliber of Victoria de los Angeles, The Sixteen with Harry Christophers and the Labeque Sisters. It won awards for its partnerships with local business and had the personal support of then Prime Minister, John Major, who ensured its financial security as well as getting to know Tim and Donal. In 1992, history was made when both Cathedral choirs sang in both cathedrals on the same day for the first time.

Tim was also City Organist and taught at Queen’s University in Belfast. He also was appointed to the panel of Examiners for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

In 2001 Tim flew to the USA, just two weeks after the attacks of 9/11, and commenced working in St. Louis at the Church of St. Michael and St. George. It was in St. Louis that Tim met and fell in love with a young soprano, Christine Westhoff, and they married at the St. Louis Basilica in October 2004.

In 2006 Tim came to Little Rock and was appointed Canon Precentor at Trinity Cathedral. His work there has been highly regarded both at the conductors stand and on the organ bench. In addition to the handbell choir and the adult choir, Tim was responsible for the Choir School program at the Cathedral School which flourished until its closure last year. Tim serves as accompanist for the Arkansas Chamber Singers and is well known in the city’s artistic community.

Timothy is an experienced performer as conductor, accompanist and recitalist. His recital in St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York was reviewed as “superb”. Tim often appears with Christine in voice/organ recitals and last year they produced a CD, Ora Pro Nobis, which is available on iTunes. They have also undertaken one concert tour of the UK. Christine has her own website at christinewesthoff.com and is enjoying a burgeoning career as a lyric soprano. They are both members of the Arts on Tour roster at the Arkansas Arts Council. More importantly, they are the proud parents of Cecilia who will be three in July.

Tim relaxes by cooking, reading, and dabbling with a bit of jazz. He loves sports, both British (his favorite soccer club is Watford) and American, with soft spots for the Dallas Cowboys and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is also an enthusiastic, if not particularly gifted, golfer.

“I am very excited by the possibilities for the music program at St. Mark’s and look forward to involving as many people as possible, young and old, in the singing and playing we will do together.In music we can express ourselves and our worship of God in ways that words cannot do by themselves. It can be a profound experience.

“Christine, Cecilia and I can’t wait to meet everybody and to make some glorious music!”

Timothy Allen was born and brought up in St Albans, England, and attended St Albans
School which is situated next to St Albans Cathedral. He and his family will join us on August 1, 2012.

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