Voices from the Parish

This week's Voice from the Parish is Tim Norris. Tim has been a member of The St Swithun-Wells Parish for the past eight years having moved from Winchester fourteen years ago. Below is some information about Tim's incredible musical career and his extensive volunteer work within our community. 

Tim comes from Bournemouth and is a graduate of King Alfred’s College, Winchester and a Licentiate of The Royal Schools of Music (Music Direction). Tim began his musical career aged seven when he became a chorister in the choir of The Priory Church, Christchurch under the direction of Organist and Master of The Choristers Mr. Geoffrey Tristram. He was also in the school choir at St. Peter‘s De la Salle (RC) College, Bournemouth, during which time he appeared in three television series totalling twenty-five programmes for ITV's Southern Television and numerous BBC Radio Broadcasts. Tim has enjoyed an amazing career in music, touring the world, performing and teaching. Since graduating in 1991 he has taught as a brass instrumental teacher for The Hampshire Music Service, The Berkshire Young Musicians Trust, The University of Southampton and at numerous schools and colleges. He has been very involved with church music and liturgies in the Winchester area. In 1993, together with four colleagues he formed the Winchester Music School which offers high quality individual and group music tuition encompassing all aspects and styles. The Winchester Music School is part of a community project, working with Foundation Music based at The University of Winchester and which encourages music students, teachers and musicians to work together to enjoy and share their musical talents and skills. In 1997 Tim became a co-founder, and has been The Musical Director, of The Meridian Winds band, a forty-five strong symphonic wind band which performs regularly in the local and wider community. In 2000, he founded The Winchester Waytes mediaeval and renaissance band which re-creates the music of the 12th to 17th century and performs in and around the ancient capital of England. He is also co-director and musical editor of Belgarum Music Publishing which publishes and produces music for woodwind, brass, ensembles and bands at all performance levels.

Tim is a volunteer and member of several groups within the parish, including, Growing in Faith Together (GIFT); St Edwards Choir; Holy Cross Choir;  Holy Cross Thursday " Coffee Stop" serving; Ministry of Reading (Lector) - a reader, being someone who reads lessons in a church service. 

Tim is currently on The year long Benedictine Oblates Novitiate course at St Mary's Abbey, Buckfast, (Buckfast Abbey) visiting, studying and worshipping with the Monastic and Lay Oblates Community every other month until September this year.

Tim retired in 2025, after 59 years of music-making, educating and community music creating, but seems to be busier than ever!

Tim continues to journey on his Christian Pilgrimage, Seeking and Worshiping God in The Beauty of Holiness, AD GLORIAM DEUM.