Jonathan Milton Retires from Westminster Abbey Choir School

This summer we say ‘farewell’ to Jonathan Milton after nearly 18 years as Headmaster of Westminster Abbey Choir School. CSA will miss him as a colleague, a long-serving Committee Member and our Chairman from 2007-2009.

Jonathan’s passion for music started at an early age and just like his young charges he started singing in a choir aged seven. He studied music and education at St John’s College, York with a choral scholarship at York Minster.

Choir schools have featured throughout his teaching career including posts at The Abbey School, Tewkesbury and King’s Rochester Preparatory School . He returned to the Abbey as Headmaster in 1991 and regularly sang as a lay clerk at Tewkesbury Abbey, Worcester Cathedral and at Gloucester Cathedral as a supernumerary.

Jonathan moved to London eleven years later and as well as taking the helm at the choir school he made a significant contribution to CSA. He joined the Committee in 2002 and during his Chairmanship oversaw the dramatic increase in choir school partnership work with local primary schools under the government’s Sing Up! programme.

Bright future for WACS

As Jonathan says: “The Abbey has been a wonderful place to have lived and worked for almost eighteen years.  Choral music of the very highest quality lies at the heart of its daily mission and it has been a huge privilege to have played a part in maintaining this priceless tradition.”

Jonathan pictured with this little gang who had a go at being choristers ‘for a day’ last term!

He leaves the school in excellent shape. It’s good to know there are lots of families recognising what a brilliant education and training their sons will receive at WACS. This September the school welcomes a new headmaster and seven new chorister recruits will embark on their musical journal. They will join a school that invests heavily in making it a wonderful singing, learning and boarding experience.

Jonathan’s love of music is matched by a passion for sailing and all things to do with the sea. We wish him a very happy retirement!

Meanwhile, CSA looks forward to welcoming Peter Roberts as the new Headmaster of WACS in September. He too is well-versed in choir school life and is moving from St George’s School, Windsor.