Peter Barley has enjoyed a varied career as organist, conductor and teacher, with a particular emphasis on sacred music. He was until recently Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin where for eight years he was responsible for a busy music programme and for directing the cathedral choir on a daily basis. 

The foundations for his interest in organ and church music were laid through studies at King’s College, Cambridge (where he was an organ scholar) and as a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music, London. His teachers included Nicolas Kynaston, Peter Hurford and the late Nicholas Danby.

As an organist Peter has appeared at many major venues, including the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral, London. He has also played at many leading Irish venues, including the National Concert Hall and Christ Church and St Mary’s Pro Cathedrals in Dublin.

A former Director of the Edington Festival, Peter is Chair of the RSCM Republic of Ireland committee and is currently working as Organist and Choir Director here at St Mary’s Cathedral.