The magnificent organ of Winchester Cathedral was built by Henry ‘Father’ Willis for the great Exhibition of 1851. In the opening ceremony, the organ thundered forth with the National Anthem played by none other than Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Organist and Master of the Choristers of Winchester Cathedral. Remembered for his rich compositions and a penchant for angling when he really ought to have been playing the organ, it was Wesley who persuaded the Dean and Chapter to purchase the organ from the Great Exhibition, seeing it installed in the Cathedral in 1854. Queen Victoria herself contributed £150 towards the costs.
Choirs & Music
Music Department
Meet our Musicians
Katherine Dienes-Williams, Director of Music
Katherine Dienes-Williams was appointed Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral in September 2026, following eighteen years as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Guildford Cathedral. In 2022, she became the first female President of the Cathedral Organists’ Association. Born and educated in Wellington, New Zealand, Katherine was Organ Scholar at Wellington Cathedral before moving to the UK in 1991.
Prior to her appointment at Winchester, Katherine held senior music posts at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral and the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick. Alongside her work as a conductor, organist and educator, she is a trustee of several music charities and organisations and has performed extensively in the UK and internationally. Katherine holds a Master of Arts in Music and Liturgy from the University of Leeds and appears on numerous recordings as both organist and choral conductor.
Joshua Stephens, Sub-Organist
Acknowledged as one of Britain’s “most brilliant and exciting musicians” (Leeds Inspired), Joshua has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, performed on national television, and guest conducted the City of London Sinfonia and The Sixteen. Prior to his role at Winchester Cathedral, Joshua was founding Director of Music at Steel City Choristers, Assistant and Acting Director of Music at Sheffield Cathedral, and Second Assistant Organist at Wells Cathedral. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating with a First-Class degree with Honours, studying the organ with Darius Battiwalla and Thomas Trotter.
Oliver Morrell, Sub-Organist
Oliver has been Sub-Organist since September 2024. Before moving to Winchester, he successively held organist positions at Durham Cathedral, Croydon Minster, and St Albans Cathedral. At St Albans, he played on two CD recordings and accompanied the cathedral choir on tours to Europe. Oliver graduated in 2021 with first-class honours from Durham University and has been awarded diplomas from the Royal College of Organists and the London College of Music. He is active as a recitalist and teacher and has had compositions premiered at the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.
Photo above: Jim Pascoe ©
