Stanley Godfrey

Stanley Godfrey is Graduate Organ Scholar at Ely Cathedral and King's Ely, working with the other members of the Music Department to help train the choristers and to direct and play for choral services.

Originally from Lincolnshire, Stanley was appointed as Organ Scholar at Bourne Abbey Parish Church at the age of 11, having been a chorister there for 4 years. Subsequent lessons with John Saunders and Robert Gower led to him being awarded an Organ Scholarship to St Peter's College, Oxford, where he took a BA in Music in 2022. Studying with Stephen Farr and working under the direction of Prof. Edward Higginbottom and Quintin Beer, highlights included a Finals recital of organ music based upon the Book of Psalms, and solo performances at Chesterfield Parish Church (the Crooked Spire), Liverpool Anglican and Metropolitan Cathedrals, and De Nicolaasbasiliek in Amsterdam. He was subsequently appointed as Organist and Choir Director at St Frideswide's Church, Oxford in August 2022, where he directed and accompanied the choir for regular services.

Before coming to Ely Cathedral, Stanley took a PGCE with Distinction in Secondary Music Education at the University of Reading in 2023, working in music departments across Berkshire to deliver classroom music lessons. He looks forward to bringing this experience into his work with the Cathedral choristers (as well as his newfound-knowledge of the diverse range of music taught in classrooms!).