We’re delighted to welcome Simon Winters as our new Musical Director.
Simon grew up in Chingford and was a chorister and assistant organist at Chingford Parish Church. He was educated at Bancroft’s School, Woodford Green, and St Anne’s College, Oxford, where he read Music. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
For over 35 years, Simon has taught piano, organ, recorder, and harmony at Brentwood and Chigwell Schools and also teaches harmony as part of the A level course at both schools.
Simon’s conducting career began in 1992 when he was approached to lead the chamber choir Felicitas, which he has led ever since. Under Simon’s direction, Felicitas has recorded five CDs, performed in London as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival, and toured extensively in Europe. Simon has been the Musical Director at St John’s Church, Epping since 2005, and was Musical Director of Epping Chorus (formerly Epping Church Choirs Association) for 24 years until it was disbanded earlier in 2025.
As an organist and pianist, Simon Winters has performed in cathedrals across England and regularly accompanies local choirs and soloists. Simon is especially active at Chigwell School, accompanying the chapel choir, choral society, and various instrumentalists and singers. Simon has recorded two CDs with the Chigwell School Chapel Choir and has accompanied them at prestigious venues such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Festival Hall, and Canterbury Cathedral.
Simon is a published composer and his Christmas Medley for recorder consort is published by Peacock Press. In addition, Simon has composed several choral works, including a Communion setting, a set of responses, and settings of “Adam lay ybounden” and “O sing joyfully”