We are delighted to announce that Mr Michael Butterfield has been appointed Director of Music at Ealing Abbey from 1 September 2026.
On the appointment, Abbot Dominic said: “I do want to take this opportunity to express my thanks to his predecessor, Christopher Eastwood, for all that he has achieved during his time as Director of the Abbey Choir. We look forward to welcoming Michael, who will be visiting periodically before he formally takes up post with the choir and this new development of the Abbey’s sacred music programme. As the Abbey Choir prepares for the end of the choir year, we have the opportunity to experience again its contribution to our Christian witness in Ealing.”
Michael succeeds Mr Christopher Eastwood, who after a remarkable tenure of twenty years, will be stepping down as Director of Ealing Abbey Choir. During this time, the choir has recorded twice on the Herald label and toured across Europe and three times to America.
On his appointment, Michael said: “I am so grateful for the warm welcome I have received from the Ealing Abbey community, and I am particularly looking forward to working with such talented musicians in one of the UK’s pre-eminent choral foundations. The opportunity to build on the exceptional work of Chris Eastwood is a great privilege, and I look forward to serving the Abbey’s music with dedication and care.”
Michael was a chorister at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney, where he eventually held the position of Assistant Director of Music. In 2017 he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Professor David Titterington. During this time, he held organ scholarships at Westminster Cathedral, Royal Hospital Chelsea, and Kings College London, which involved numerous concert performances, broadcasts, and a tour to the USA.
Upon graduating with an MA from the Royal Academy, Michael spent a year as Assistant Director of Music at Truro Cathedral working regularly with the boy and girl choristers and playing the famous Father Willis cathedral organ for daily services. Between 2020 and 2025 he was the Organist and Academic Music Teacher at Marlborough College, taught the Music Technology A-Level course, and directed the music for Godspell (2022), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2023), and A Brief Encounter (2024). He currently is pursuing a freelance portfolio in London.
Michael will conduct his first service at Ealing Abbey with the choir on Sunday, 4th September at the 10.30am Mass and next year lead the choir on tour to Rome in April 2027.