Paul Cheater
Adjunct Research Fellow
Paul Cheater studied the organ at University College, Oxford, under the late John Webster, as an integral part of the Oxford University Diploma in Education, for which he studied between 1970 and 1973. He also studied piano under Vernon Mann and singing and conducting under Olga Wilson. During an active career within education that has taken him around the world as a teacher, tutor, educationalist, accompanist and recitalist, he has worked in many venues in many countries. As an organist, Paul has performed in many of the cathedrals of the United Kingdom, as well as several cathedrals and large churches in France, including Reims Cathedral, Rouen Cathedral and La Cathédrale de Notre Dame, Paris.
In 1982 Paul obtained the diploma of Associate of the Royal College of Preceptors in School Management, and in 1993 he was elected as a Fellow of the college. In 2003 he was elected as an Honorary Fellow of the National College of Music and Arts, London, for whom he acts as Media Relations Director and for whom he is an examiner. In 2008, Paul was the first examiner for the new course in Music Theatre, held at the University of Gloucester.
In addition to his musical activity, Paul Cheater acts a freelance contributor for the UK's Daily Telegraph, writing on aspects of education. He is regularly asked to review text books for languages, and from 2003 until 2007 he was the editor of a journal devoted to Personal and Social Education.
Paul has composed numerous pieces of different genres, both sacred and secular and he has written many songs and anthems for children's choirs.
He is now involved with the development and implementation of Afghanistan's only music college, in Kabul, having been invited to devise the musical curriculum from the early stages to the first two years of tertiary education. In addition, he is helping to locate instrumental teachers for the college and is also assisting with its management. The college is the vision of another of Monash's Adjunct Research Fellows, Dr Ahmad Sarmast, and will cater for 300 orphaned but musical children and young people.