InHarmony is St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s project to enrich music in worship in the churches across the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich.
Following the publication of the InHarmony Report in January 2018, we have begun a programme of training events and resourcing, responding to the needs expressed in the survey, and encouraging new approaches to help parishes develop music in worship appropriate to their needs.
InHarmony is led by Richard Hubbard, St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Music Development Director. Richard brings a wealth of experience as a church musician and educator across a wide range of music and worship genres. He is also a Lecturer in Music and Worship at London School of Theology, and Artistic Director of Cantus Firmus Trust.
InHarmony has been made possible by the generous support of the Foundation of St Edmund. Assistance has also been given by the Pratt Green Trust.
Richard was born in Ipswich, and educated at Northgate Grammar School. He obtained a degree in Music in Colchester in 1983, followed by teacher training in class and instrumental teaching. He later completed an MA in Christian Liturgical Music with distinction. He is a Fellow of the Independent Society of Musicians.
Richard taught percussion at Woodbridge School for 32 years, and ran a private piano teaching practice.
He was Director of the Regional Training Programme for Music and Worship Foundation. He was National Secretary of CHIME – the Churches’ Initiative in Music Education – which brought together organisations involved in training church musicians, developing a national framework and guidelines for training courses. He was also part of an advisory group devising a syllabus for the Royal School of Church Music.
Richard was part of a small team that developed the BA degree course in Theology, Music and Worship at London School of Theology (then London Bible College). Now in its 26th year, this course uniquely integrates theological and musical education, equipping musicians to work across a broad range of musical styles in the context of church worship. Richard leads the Composition and Arranging module, teaches Conducting and Church Music History and directs the chamber choir VivaVoce.
As a performing musician, Richard has played timpani and percussion in a number of orchestras, nationally and locally, including London’s All Souls Orchestra, the English Arts Orchestra, Colchester Symphony Orchestra, Lavenham Sinfonia, Kingfisher Sinfonietta and many more. He has performed at Spring Harvest and on BBC Songs of Praise, and has directed an ensemble of 21 percussionists with Oliver Knussen at Snape Maltings.
Returning to live in Suffolk in 2013 with his wife, Wendy, Richard is Artistic Director of Cantus Firmus Trust, conducting the Cantus Firmus Choir – an inter-church choir of some 60 singers based in Ipswich. His vision is to see music used creatively in worship, combining artistic skill with spiritual integrity in the service of God and the church.
An occasional email newsletter giving information about the project and details of relevant events. It’s a great way to keep touch with what’s going on around the Diocese.
