Paul Hayward

About Paul Hayward

Musical Director (MD) - Baton conducting or from the keyboard.
Assistant Musical Director (AMD), Keys & Rehearsal Piano.
Orchestrator, Arranger and Music Preparation.

I am a qualified, experienced and versatile musician who is reliable and prepares well for any situation with extensive experience working as a conductor and accompanist. I am a proficient accompanist and ensemble musician, having played a variety of keyboard instruments in different genres including classical, jazz and musical theatre. As a conductor, I am currently the Musical Director for three choirs and a chamber ensemble, covering a wide variety of repertoire in different styles. I also have a growing number of arrangements and orchestrations available for purchase, especially for male voice choir.

Having recently completed my PhD, I am now endeavouring to meet music professionals whilst looking for new opportunities, especially in musical theatre and on the concert platform. I have line management experience, and I work well in a team as well as being a natural leader. I am a well-organised person who always plans ahead, communicates well, and has an eye for detail.

I work on a wide variety of repertoire each week, from classical and large choral works to musical theatre, pop, swing and contemporary music. My choral society works with professional soloists, and highlights of concerts with orchestral accompaniment includes Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah and Coronation Anthems, Haydn’s The Creation and Nelson Mass, and Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem. Worked conducted with non-orchestral accompaniment includes Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Rejoice in the Lamb, Shearing’s Music to hear, Stainer’s The Crucifixion, and Rutter’s A sprig of thyme, Gloria, Magnificat, and Requiem. I am very comfortable working with voices, as well as taking rehearsals from the podium or piano.

As an ensemble musician, I have played harpsichord and organ continuo in early music as well as orchestral keyboard instruments (harmonium, celesta etc) in arrangements of larger works, including Mahler’s Symphony No.4 and Das lied von der erde, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an exhibition with the Nottingham chamber ensemble saraBande. A career highlight was playing continuo in a concert of Handel’s Theodora with Rachel Podger and Brecon Baroque. As a rehearsal pianist, my portfolio has included Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Verdi’s Requiem and Jenkins’ The Armed Man.

In musical theatre, I am proficient in programming Apple Mainstage alongside industry standard sample sets, including piano libraries from Synthogy and orchestral libraries from Spitfire Audio. I am used to regularly performing with my own Mainstage-based setup. As an accompanist, my specialism is musical theatre and contemporary concert works. I have played for a number of musical theatre productions as an assistant MD, rehearsal pianist and keys player, and am a repetiteur for the London Musical Theatre Orchestra for play-through days, as well as a keyboard player for the Northern Musical Theatre Orchestra for concerts and play-through days. Previous engagements have included amateur and school-level productions as AMD, rehearsal pianist or keyboard chair, including Les Miserables School Edition, Bugsy Malone, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat, and Oliver! Play-through days are not listed due to performing rights agreements, but I have played keyboard chairs in popular musicals in that capacity.

I hold diplomas, a MMus and a PhD in composition, arranging and choral music, and have been arranging and orchestrating for a number of years. I also offer music preparation services as my studies have included publishing to a professional standard. My scores for purchase are available via my website.

I am open to one-off, depping, temporary and permanent positions, as well as touring. This includes conducting, keys playing and rehearsal piano. I have my own keyboard setup utilising Mainstage and professional sample sets. I also offer music preparation, orchestrating and arranging services.

Please see my website for further information: www.paulhayward.org
A full CV is available on request.