Douai Abbey Singers — Douai Abbey

The Lay Choir of Douai Abbey

Polyphony in the service of prayer

The Douai Abbey Singers form the Lay Choir of Douai Abbey. Their primary role is to augment the abbey church liturgy on regular Sundays and feasts throughout the year, complementing the monastic chant with polyphony both old and new. The choir's varied repertoire ranges from Renaissance to contemporary motets and Mass settings, with an emphasis on a cappella singing, often laced with plainchant.

The Douai Abbey Singers are particularly proud of their tradition of commissioning new works from leading composers. In recent years this has included Roxanna Panufnik (Douai Missa Brevis), David Bednall (Missa Lux et Origo, Missa de Angelis, Missa Brevis), Alex Hodgkinson (Missa Orbis Factor), as well as other works by Colin Mawby and John Sanders.

The Singers maintain a very high standard, have made a number of recordings, and have sung at prestigious venues including Westminster Cathedral in London and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The choir's usual routine is to sing at Mass on the third Sunday of each month, and for major feasts throughout the year including the Sacred Triduum and Christmas. Rehearsals take place before each service; singers need to be experienced in sight-reading and efficient in learning pieces across a range of styles. The Director of Music is always delighted to hear from aspiring members at info@douaiabbey.org.uk.

Meet the team

Our Musicians

Director of Music

Oliver Walker

Oliver Walker is a music educator, choral conductor and organist who is privileged to have made music around the world. Having worked as Director of Music at Repton School (2016–2024) and Head of Choral Music at Solihull School (2010–2016), he now serves as Director of Music at Douai Abbey, where he oversees all aspects of its musical life, including providing organ music for Mass each Sunday, direction of the Douai Abbey Singers, and managing the abbey's busy concert programme.

Oliver studied Music as an Organ Scholar at Keble College, Oxford, and Choral Conducting at the University of Birmingham, and as an organist has held positions at Wells, Gloucester, and Chelmsford Cathedrals. Other current roles include working as Choirmaster at Bruern Abbey Schools, and being Musical Director of both Jubilate Chamber Choir (Oxford) and Solihull Choral Society.

Principal Cantor

Andrew Doll

Andrew Doll began singing as a chorister in New College, Oxford, under Edward Higginbottom, and has since held positions at St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Norwich Cathedral, Queen's College Oxford, and most recently as a Lay Clerk at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. He is also Associate Director of the medieval music ensemble Fount & Origin.

Outside of singing, he works as speechwriter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and is a very proud father.

Principal Cantor

Kate McNamara

Kate McNamara is an Australian-born singer, conductor, and educator. After studying voice at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she was a freelance soprano and lay clerk at St George's Cathedral, Perth. As a conductor, Kate received training with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Perth Symphony Orchestra, later working with Fremantle Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Ballet. In 2022 she was Young Artist Conductor with West Australian Opera.

Kate has led a wide variety of sacred and secular ensembles, most notably as Artistic Director and General Manager of the Giovanni Consort (2021–2023), and as a Senior Conductor with the Australian Girls Choir (2015–2024). She relocated to the UK in 2024, and since settling in Buckinghamshire has built a busy performing schedule as a freelance soprano across London and Oxford. She currently holds the position of Head of Music at Claire's Court Juniors.

Choral Scholarship

Douai Abbey Choral Scholarship

In 2025 Douai Abbey instituted a Choral Scholarship for promising singers aged 18–26 who wish to develop their ability to sing within an ambitious choral setting, and to gain experience in contributing to Catholic liturgical practice. Interested candidates are welcome to contact the Director of Music at any time of year.

Choral Scholar 2026 — Oliver Hames

Oliver Hames is an engineering student at the University of Bristol, currently living in Reading for a year while completing an industrial placement. Originally from Leicester, he has sung with a variety of choirs across Leicester, Bristol and Reading, gaining experience in a wide range of choral traditions and repertoire. He is excited to be Choral Scholar at Douai Abbey this year and looks forward to developing his musicianship further, contributing to the abbey's rich musical life, and singing as part of such a welcoming and dedicated community.

Contact the Director of Music View Concert Programme