Musical Director

Paul was educated at Chetham's before winning an entrance scholarship at seventeen to study at the RNCM. He subsequently worked as a session singer at the BBC and with various professional ensembles and opera companies at theatres at home and abroad which included five years of full time employment at Scottish Opera. Paul has performed at some of Europe's most prestigious concert venues including Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Teater an der Wien in Vienna and he toured Europe with The Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Fields. He has performed on countless live radio broadcasts on BBC Radio 4's Daily Service programme, choral evensong and live opera broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.

Paul is a Certified Teacher of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and was awarded the status with the highest classification of 'Excellent'. He graduated with a first class honours degree in Music and has diplomas in pipe organ and piano performance, piano teaching, singing and written diplomas in music theory and composition. Paul was awarded the Licentiate Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music in Vocal Teaching with Distinction and has a Post Graduate Certificate in Voice Pedagogy. He is an Estill practitioner (having passed the Estill Figure Proficiency exam) and is permitted to use Estilll Voice Teaching in the studio. Paul is always in demand as a private vocal tutor for singing, speaking, vocal rehabilitation, postmenopausal support and currently has students studying at most of the Uk's most prestigious institutions. Currently, Paul works as a practical tutor and ensemble coach at Cardiff University School of Music where he teaches classical singing, jazz, popular music and music theatre on the BA/BMus and MA courses. He also directs several vocal ensembles and works as a tutor for Gwent Music in piano, voice, theory and music theatre. Paul is currently working towards a Doctorate focused on designing a model for rehabilitation of the post-menopausal voice. He was admitted as a Fellow of the London College of Music for his research into the changes encountered by the voice during adolescence and menopause and the strategies identified to improve vocal function and mitigate the symptoms of voice mutation. 

As a pianist, Paul has accompanied singers, instrumentalists and choirs at hundreds of concerts, public recitals and examinations at venues in the UK and abroad including Prague, Paris, Barcelona, New York and Los Angeles. He is a qualified piano teacher and passed the DipABRSM in Piano Teaching and also in Piano Performance. Current students range from beginner to diploma standard. 

In 2010 Paul succeeded Martin Hodson MBE as Musical Director of the Gwent Chorale conducted his inaugural concert with the choir and the Welsh Sinfonia in May 2011. Paul joined the team at Mello'D' in 2024.

Paul is married to Welsh soprano Jill Padfield. The couple have one child together and live near Blackwood in South Wales. His interests, in the little free time he has, include spending time with his family, keeping fit and playing the piano.

Paul is extremely grateful to Mello'D' for their patience, resilience, unerring commitment and good humour.