Director of Music
Emma Trounson
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Emma was appointed as Director of Music at Saint James the Greater in May 2022 and is also Musical Director of Fosse Singers, Semper Singers, Corah (female vocal ensemble) and SoundCafe Choir (for homeless and vulnerably housed people). She was formerly Director of Music at All Saints with Holy Trinity, Loughborough.
As a solo and choral soprano, Emma has enjoyed television and radio appearances. She studied at the University of Bristol and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama for an MA in Choral Conducting.
Emma now lives in Anstey with her husband Mark (also a professional musician) and their young son Henry. They are all rugby fans and have season tickets for Leicester Tigers!
Associate Director of Music
Michael Rule
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Michael Rule is Associate Director of Music and Organist at St James the Greater and he also directs St James' Singers.
Mike first visited St James the Greater in 1999 and was instantly hooked by the beautiful music, liturgy and building. This led him on a path as a church musician and organist which continued whilst studying at university where he sang in the choir at Bath Abbey and was appointed Assistant Organist at Christ Church, Bath. He returned to Leicester in 2007 and was appointed Associate Director of Music at St James the Greater in August 2010.
He is also an Assistant Principal across two Leicester secondary schools, follows the Leicester Tigers, loves to cook (and eat!) and is the drummer in a rock band.
Assistant Organist
Guy Steed
Guy is the Assistant Organist at St James the Greater and a Medical Student at the University of Leicester.
His interest in Church Music and Organ playing started during his time as a Chorister at Canterbury Cathedral where he was taught the organ by the then organist of the Cathedral, David Flood. Further study and practice resulted in him holding the post of organ scholar at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where he studied physics.
He lives in Leicester with his wife Chiara who is training to be a schoolteacher. He enjoys cooking, reading and learning languages.
Organ Scholar
Nicholas Friedersdorff
Nicholas is the Organ Scholar at St James the Greater. He has been singing in the choir since joining in 2018. His musical development is very much encouraged and supported by his teachers John and Roxanne Gull.
Thanks to the Leicester MusicFest scheme "Re-homing an instrument" he was able to continue his studies and practice on his own organ during the pandemic. He is currently preparing for his grade 8 Organ exam whilst preparing for his GCSE's at The Lancaster Academy.
His dreams are to study music and to continue to play the organ.