Who We Are

Deep Roots Tall Trees is led by Neil Paris, Simon Steptoe, Gareth Fuller, and Judy Caine. It is supported by the DRTT Choir Steering Group: Gill Arthey, Fiona Rodgers, Shusha Walmsley and Lesley Giddings.

 Deep Roots Tall Trees was founded in 2012 by Rosalind Stoddart and Barb Jungr.

Neil Paris - Artistic Director

 Neil is a performer, educator and director. He has performed everywhere from village greens to major international stages, created and toured his own work and teaches across the formal and informal education sector. He began working with Deep Roots Tall Trees in 2016 as part of the Our Woods project, choreographing Dreaming Our Woods and establishing the DRTT dancetheatre company.

Gareth Fuller - Choir Director

Gareth is the Deep Roots Tall Trees Choir Director. An established musical and choral director with a national  reputation, he has brought the Deep Roots Tall Trees choir from humble beginning to the very highest level. Gareth has worked in many musical genres with a long list of respected organisations, people, and events that include the BBC’s The Voice, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal and Derngate Community Choir, Will Young, Laura Young and Carleen Anderson. He is a leading figure in the world of gospel singing and a key player in iGospel.

Judy Caine - Project Coordinator for "Changing Corby"

Judy is Project Coordinator for our latest project, "Changing Corby". Her association with Deep Roots Tall Trees began initially as a choir-member and later as one of the musicians (flautist) at their sell-out concert in August 2014 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Most recently she project managed, "Our Woods", a major DRTT cross-arts festival taking place in and around Corby through 2016 and 2017, culminating in "Dreaming Our Woods", a multi-media performance involving the DRTT choir, DRTT dancetheatre, a live band and light show. 

She has a BA in Creative Arts and has specialised in arts project management for over 20 years. Judy has worked across many disciplines including dance, drama, sculpture, music, lighting, visual art and video.

When not project managing Judy spends most of her time producing documentaries. Her clients have included, the BBC, Channel 4, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund, Universal and CBC (Canada), to name a few. She has won nine international awards for her work.

She currently chairs SEMLEP’s Creative and Cultural Committee and is very committed to making Art accessible for all.

Simon Steptoe - General Manager

General Manager Simon Steptoe joined Deep Roots after working in the music industry for over 30 years, bringing together professional and amateur musicians from across the UK and the world. He met Ros and Kate in 2012 while helping set up Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust’s Inclusion Programme, and heard about their new arts project, a choir called… Deep Roots Tall Trees! Having watched the project develop from afar, he’s delighted to be part of the next phase of its exciting work.

Mark Brennan

Mark has been part of DRTT since the beginning, writing songs of his own, helping arrange others songs and playing and singing in our performances. Barb Jungr has helped him develop his artistic skills as well as confidence and professionalism.

Mark also has run The White Arc Music Studio with a large PA system since 2011. It enables people in and around Corby for the first time, to develop their music skills and have the opportunity to record their own music. The White Arc also runs The White Arc Music Festival which takes place once a year in Coronation Park since 2011. This has become an established showcase stage for local musicians to play along-side established bands and performers.

Since the organisation was formed, Mark has managed to offer support to more and more people as his reputation has grown and demand has increased.

George Reilly

George has been involved in the DRTT project since the very beginning.

As one of the musicians involved with the project he quickly found himself writing original material and contributing to songs and music composed by others. Through the course of the DRTT project his musicianship and songwriting abilities have been considerably developed, and, as a consequence, he has found himself in demand as a writer and accompanist in local bands and duets.

As the DRTT project has progressed, there have been opportunities for George to increase his musical sophistication, and he has risen to the challenge. He now performs his own original material as part of a duet, and this material is being well received, particularly at the White Ark festival, a local festival where songwriters perform their own songs. The DRTT project has enabled George to find a voice, and to find an audience for that voice.