Paul Spicer (born 1952) is an English composer, conductor , and organist . He has worked as a music teacher, at the Royal College of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire , as a producer for BBC Radio 3 , and as artistic director of the Lichfield Festival . He conducts the Birmingham Bach Choir, the Finzi Singers, and the Whitehall Choir. His compositions include two oratorios with libretti by the Bishop of Durham , Dr Tom Wright . Spicer is a champion of early 20th century British composers. He founded the Finzi Singers and is a trustee of the Finzi Trust . He is vice-president of the Herbert Howells Society and author of a biography of Howells. He is also an advisor to the Sir George Dyson Trust and is working on a biography of Dyson.