The Three Choirs Festival announces Andrew Reid as the new Artistic Director of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival, following his appointment as Hereford Cathedral’s Director of Music and Conductor of the Hereford Choral Society. Andrew succeeds Geraint Bowen, who announced his retirement in September 2025 after 24 years in the position. The Three Choirs Festival is the longest-running classical music festival in the world, and the next edition in Hereford, which
takes place in 2028, will be the 300th festival.
Andrew is currently Director of Music at Little St Mary’s Church in Cambridge, and was previously Managing Director of Harrison & Harrison Organ Builders (2017–22) and also Director of the Royal School of Church Music. He worked in cathedral music between 1996 and 2012 as Director of Music at Peterborough Cathedral, Sub Organist of Westminster Abbey, and Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral. In the latter two positions he played for the funerals of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Cardinal Basil Hume, and accompanied various critically acclaimed recordings on the Hyperion label. While in Peterborough he directed the Northampton Bach Choir and instigated choral and orchestral concerts in the cathedral.
Andrew, who is originally from Kent and educated at Cambridge, is married to Louise, and they have four children, who have all been cathedral choristers. He also once performed the complete organ works of JS Bach in a single 25-hour recital.
Andrew Reid says: “I feel immensely privileged to be succeeding Geraint Bowen as Director of Music at Hereford Cathedral, and tasked with leading its excellent choir. I greatly look forward to working with the Three Choirs Festival staff and colleagues in Gloucester and Worcester. It is a particular honour imminently to be involved in the leadership of the 300th Festival in 2028, and I am sure it will be a wonderful and fitting celebration.”
David Francis, CEO of the Three Choirs Festival, says: “The Three Choirs Festival Board and staff welcomes Andrew as our new Artistic Director in Hereford. This is a wonderful time to join the Three Choirs Festival as it heads towards such an important milestone in Hereford. Andrew brings a wealth of experience in choral music, as well as organisational leadership. We are all looking forward to working closely with him and building on the success of the 2025 Hereford festival.”
Bruce Herriot, Hereford Chair, says, “As a member of the Three Choirs Board as well as a tenor in the Three Choirs Festival Chorus, I am sure I speak for us all when I say how delighted we are with Andrew’s appointment. I’d like to acknowledge Geraint’s incredible tenure and wish Andrew well in this exciting role which reaches so many people through Choral music.”
Andrew will be joining the cathedral team in late spring and, until that time, Peter Dyke will step into the role of Interim Director of Music. Geraint’s final service at Hereford Cathedral will be Evensong on Tuesday 10 February.
Image credit: Mark Boden
