Why.
A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of Glasgow, Fraser has a wide musical experience; from solo recitals and accompaniment to conducting choirs, orchestras and brass bands, traditional music to teaching high school music, his versatility enables him to engage in performance and teaching across a range of contexts.
It is, however, in liturgical music that Fraser has found the most fulfillment as it is the plane on which his musical, spiritual and pedagogical interests intersect. Fraser’s church music career has seen him develop high quality musical provision in Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic settings and since his conversion to the Catholic faith, inspired by the example of Dr Mary Berry and the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, he has dedicated his music making to the practice and promotion of Gregorian Chant, Polyphony, Hymnody and Liturgical Organ playing.
Working in sacred music and in teaching both music and religious education, Fraser is in the unique position of being immersed in the study and practice of both the music of the church and the theology which it expresses. It is the beauty of the liturgy and its communication of the truth of the faith that motivates Fraser in his calling to promote excellence in liturgical music. He hopes that by sharing insights and resources and by training singers and clergy in Gregorian Chant, Polyphony and liturgical organ practice that many more people will discover the beauty of the Sacred Liturgy and will come to know the beauty of the one to whom our song is directed. To this aim, Fraser founded a new ensemble and education programme called Cantores Matris Dei.
What.
Fraser studied organ with David Hamilton at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland during which time he worked with ensembles such as the Kilbarchan Singers and Ayrshire Voices. He has held church posts at St Luke’s Church of Scotland in Paisley, St John’s Episcopal Church in Greenock, Immaculate Heart or Mary Church, Glasgow and St Brigid’s,Torglen. These posts included everything from regular Sunday services, Choral Evensong and Mass to conducting works such as Fauré’s Requiem, Widor’s Mass for two choirs and the Vierne Messe Solenelle, in liturgical context. He also founded and maintained a concert series which drew some of Scotland’s finest musicians. In 2024 he oversaw the rehoming of a 1925 Ingram organ from Killin Parish Church to St Brigid’s and continued to organise recitals there.
Since becoming a Catholic in 2015 he has accumulated extensive experience of the full gamut of Catholic liturgy. From the practice of Gregorian Chant, organ Masses and weekly Solemn Vespers to Pontifical Masses in both their Tridentine and more recent forms, he has become engrossed in the music and spirituality of the Catholic liturgical tradition.
After working with Una Voce Scotland as Director of Music and then Chairman, he founded Cantores Matris Dei in 2022. Through this initiative, Fraser offers weekly Gregorian Chant classes and the services of a semi-professional group of cantors. The chant class has reached a level of proficiency enabling them to provide sacred music for the Traditional Latin Mass and traditional Novus Ordo Masses in the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Diocese of Motherwell. In 2025, Fraser jointly led a day of chant workshops at Nottingham Cathedral culminating in Solemn Vespers.
In addition to church posts, Fraser has been one of the organists of Kelvingrove Art Gallery since 2011, contributing to the daily recital series on at least a monthly basis. He has also given recitals in other venues such as Ayr Town Hall but is now limited by his teaching commitments.
As a singer, Fraser studied vocal performance with Alan Watt and George Gordon at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has been a regular singer with the choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow, Hark Wedding Music and the Academy of Sacred Music. He participated in the 2026 Cathedral Keys International Concert Series at Glasgow Cathedral, providing the plainchant for Daniel Carroll’s performance of Olivier Latry’s Salve Regina. Fraser can be heard at Glasgow Cathedral almost every day of the year…as one of the voices singing the 12th Century chants which form the soundtrack of the VR headset exhibit! His study of conducting has led to involvement with many amateur and community ensembles and he was also an instrumental instructor for Inverclyde Council during which time, several of his pupils successfully gained entry to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
By day, Fraser is Principal Teacher of Religious Education at Turnbull RC High School in Bishopbriggs, a change of career path after a successful period as a music teacher in the same school. He is the father of three and a Benedictine Oblate of Pluscarden Abbey, where he also occasionally plays the organ for the liturgy.