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Me at Winchester Cathedral giving a public recital of the organ. The organ is a large 4 manual Harrison & Harrison; one of the finest cathedral organs in the country. Originally built by Henry Willis & Sons for the 1851 Great Exhibition, held in the Crystal Palace, London. In 1854, after the exhibition, it was dismantled, enlarged and installed in the cathedral. The organ was inadequate in volume for the vast size of the building and it was further rebuilt in 1905 by Hele of Plymouth where the Great Organ was considerably enlarged and the loud pedal Bombard 16' and Grand Bombard 32' were added. The organ has since been rebuilt twice by Harrison & Harrison in 1938 and 1988 and a new piston capture system was added in 1997. It now contains 80 speaking stops, and is one of the largest organs on the south coast of England.

 

 

A picture of me playing the amazing instrument at Roskilde Cathedral, Denmark. This was an impromptu session as I was on holiday at the time! What a wonderful opportunity to play one of the most historic organs in the world! 

 

 

 

All dressed up this time playing for the services for  a visiting choir at Christchurch Priory in Dorset. 

 

 

 ...and not dressed up, playing at Gloucester Cathedral. WHAT a sound!!

 

 

Working with Howard Goodall and Jamie Hall (BBC singers) at a concert in Romsey Abbey. The organ is out of shot... 

 

 

 

 

Working on a new commercial recording of Stainer's 'Crucifixion' with the 'Kleinchoor Concertino' choir in The Netherlands. For this recording the organ in the church was not suitable, and a Toccata 346 digital organ was temporarily installed with a set of 'Kinzle' pipes to create the warm English sound needed here. Before the recording I had to voice the organ to the building in a very short space of time, in order to save money as the budget was very tight with the recording engineers.

 

 

 

Smaller events are always fun to do and much appreciated, this concert being given for the Parish church of St Andrew's, Moretonhampstead, in Devon. The organ here was a lovely and completely original 3 manual Hele, built for the church in 1905. With 34 stops, including five independent stops at 16', this was a lovely instrument on which to play!

 

 

 

This picture shows the historic 'Meere' organ at the Bethelkerk on Urk in the Netherlands. Originally built in 1792 and completely restored between 2011-2013, it is a fine example of this builder's instruments. It now contains 35 speaking stops and is a very comprehensive two manual instrument.

 

 

Another Dutch organ, this time at Zwolle. One of the finest organs in Holland. 

 

 

 Finally, all ready at Salisbury Cathedral.......