Paul Sartin

Paul Sartin
Paul Sartin in 2016
Background information
Origin	Willesden, London, England
Genres	English folk music, choirs, contemporary composition
Instruments	Vocals, oboe, violin, cor anglais
Years active	1995–present
Associated acts	Bellowhead Belshazzar's Feast Faustus Dr Faustus
Website	www.paulsartin.co.uk

Paul Sartin (born 1971) is an English singer, instrumentalist, composer and arranger, specialising in oboe and violin. He is best known for his work with the folk band Bellowhead, but also plays with three-piece Faustus and the folk/comedy duo Belshazzar's Feast.

Sartin was brought up in Willesden, London. He was educated at Anson Primary School, Highgate School, on an assisted place, and subsequently moved to the Purcell School for Young Musicians, again on an assisted place from Brent music service. Between school and university, he played oboe with a musical theatre troupe called Gloria, and the English National Opera's Baylis project. He then took up a choral scholarship at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he gained a 2:1 in music.

Upon leaving university, Sartin sang as a lay clerk at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, a post he held for five years. During that period, he gained a diploma - Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music - and was invited to join the band Life Of Reilly, which at that time also included his future collaborator Paul Hutchinson. However, in 1995 they left to form the duo Belshazzar's Feast The duo began performing for ceilidhs and social dances, but grew a concert repertoire and a reputation for musical comedy.

In 1998 he formed the folk band Dr Faustus, with Tim van Eyken, Benji Kirkpatrick and Robert Harbron, with the intention of playing English folk music. The band undertook outreach work with charities Superact and Live Music Now, and produced two albums – The First Cut and Wager – before splitting in 2005.