Duncan Courts

Director of Music

Duncan Courts has been the Director of Music at St. Peter’s since 2015.

Duncan studied the organ with Andrew M. Wilson and Margaret Phillips. He held organ scholarships at Kelly College, Devon, and Birmingham University, followed by several church posts throughout the South West, more recently at Christchurch Priory where he directed the Priory Singers and Chamber Choir. He also directed the Fountain Singers between 2005 and 2011, visiting a number of cathedrals and greater churches in the UK.

He is married to Caren and they have two children.

Neil Sissons

Assistant Director of Music

Neil Sissons studied organ with Richard Popplewell at the Royal College of Music and went on to an organ scholarship at Worcester College, Oxford, where he read music. He has worked as a musician, accompanist, repetiteur and teacher, as well as writing about music.

He taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Sylvia Young Stage School, and in further education in London.

He moved to Dorset in 1999 and was organist at Milton Abbey before his appointment to St. Peter’s in 2015.

Caren Courts

Vocal Tutor

Caren Courts began her singing career as a chorister with various choirs including the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus. She studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff and held a choral scholarship with the BBC National Chorus of Wales under Adrian Partington. She subsequently completed post-graduate vocal studies at Trinity College of Music under Teresa Cahill.

Caren is a visiting music teacher at Castle Court School in Corfe Mullen and Durlston Court Prep School in New Milton, teaches privately, and gives regular recitals.