Ashley Grote
Ashley Grote took up the post of chorus conductor with Norwich Philharmonic in September 2024. He has been the Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral since 2012, where he directs the Cathedral choirs in choral services, concerts, broadcasts and recordings. Prior to that, Ashley held positions as Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral (2008-12), Assistant Organist of Westminster Abbey (2005-08) and Organist-in-Residence at Tonbridge School (2004-05). He was also Organist and later Director of the Edington Festival of Music within the Liturgy.
Ashley began his musical life as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge under the direction of the late Sir Stephen Cleobury. He was a music scholar at Uppingham School. Following a year as Organ Scholar at St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, returned to King’s College where he took up the organ scholarship and studied for a degree in music.
In recent years, Ashley has worked frequently with the BBC Singers as an accompanist and more recently as a conductor. In his role as Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral, Ashley has directed the Britten Sinfonia, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and Norwich Baroque.
As an organist, Ashley has performed throughout the UK, USA and Europe and has made three solo recordings to critical acclaim. He is an established composer and arranger of choral and organ works which have been published by Oxford University Press, Stainer & Bell, and Encore publications.