Choir: People
Reed Rubin Organist & Director of Music
Benjamin Nicholas was born in Norwich and was a chorister at Norwich Cathedral before holding the organ scholarships at Chichester Cathedral; Lincoln College, Oxford; and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Currently Reed Rubin Organist and Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford, he has toured extensively with Merton College Choir in the USA, Europe and the Far East. In December 2025, he directed the choir on its first tour of Japan. In September 2016, he helped found the College’s Girls’ Choir, enabling some thirty school-age singers to receive their musical training at Merton.
Winner of the BBC Music Magazine Choral Award in 2020, he has made over 40 recordings on the Delphian, Signum and Priory labels, including discs of music by Weelkes, Mozart, Stainer, Stanford, Rubbra, Allain, Chilcott, Rutter and Gabriel Jackson. Of the second Volume of Orchestral Anthems, recorded with the Britten Sinfonia, BBC Music Magazine wrote, “Nicholas evidently has the church music of the Anglican tradition in his DNA”. The choir’s two most recent recordings have been ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine.
Appointed Music Director of the Oxford Bach Choir in 2018, his recent concerts include Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius and Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philharmonia and Elgar’s The Apostles with the Philharmonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As a guest conductor, he has worked with the BBC Singers, the Holst Singers, the City of London Sinfonia, Novus NY and the Trondheim Soloists.
He was Director of the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy for four years and was the founding Director of Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. As an organist, he has recently given solo recitals in the Frauenkirche, Munich, St Paul’s Cathedral and King’s College, Cambridge. In the 2025-2026 season, he conducted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Oxford Bach Choir in a performance of Elgar’s The Kingdom, and the Britten Sinfonia in a concert to mark Arvo Pärt’s 90th Birthday.
Email: Benjamin Nicholas
Assistant Organist
François Cloete
François Cloete is Assistant Organist at Merton College, and Leon E & Iris Beghian Graduate Scholar at Magdalen College. François performs with Britain’s leading ensembles including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and Academy of Ancient Music. He gives organ recitals across the UK and abroad, and serves as accompanist to the Oxford Bach Choir. François grew up on the island of Guernsey before receiving a bursary to attend Wells Cathedral School. He subsequently held organ scholarships at Wells Cathedral and Hereford Cathedral. François became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists aged 19, receiving prizes for highest marks in every component of the examinations. He then read Music as Organ Scholar at Merton, receiving the Gibbs Prize for highest marks in his degree. Upon graduating he took up the organ scholarship at Westminster Abbey whilst studying for the MMus degree at King’s College London. Alongside his post at Merton, François pursues doctoral research under the supervision of Professor Daniel Grimley. His thesis explores relationships between musical modernism and political border-making in the interwar period. François’ work is fully funded by a scholarship at Magdalen College.
Email: François Cloete
Organ Scholar
Dominic Detre
Dominic Detre is the organ scholar at Merton College, where he is also studying for a degree in music. Dominic was educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, where he first began taking organ lessons, having learnt to play the piano from a young age. He later studied at the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department, where he received organ tuition from Martyn Noble and James Gough, while also singing in and accompanying the choirs and playing continuo in Baroque ensembles. During his later years at school, Dominic frequently accompanied the school choirs in concerts and services, both in the UK and abroad. He also held an organ scholarship at St Mary’s Church, Harrow-on-the-Hill, where he accompanied and sang with the choir. He has given organ recitals at many venues in the UK and internationally.
Vocal Coaches
Carys Lane, Giles Underwood, and William Purefoy are the College's Vocal Coaches. They work with the Choral Scholars on a regular basis whilst continuing to give concerts both in the UK and abroad.
Choir Manager
Lizzie Casey manages the Choral Foundation and is responsible for the management of both the Choir of Merton College and the Merton College Girl Choristers.
Email: Lizzie Casey
Patron of the College Choir
Peter Phillips, founder and director of The Tallis Scholars, is Patron of the College Choir. It was Peter’s idea that the College should consider establishing a Choral Foundation. Along with Benjamin Nicholas, he was a Reed Rubin Director of Music from 2008, a post he held until 2016. His involvement included recordings, tours and broadcasts, as well as conducting the choir on a number of occasions each term. The College is enormously grateful for Peter’s enthusiasm for the Choral Foundation and is delighted that he has accepted the honorary position of Patron. Peter is also a Bodley Fellow of the College.