Darius Battiwalla, Leeds City Organist

St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans AL1 1BY

Maurice Duruflé (1902–1986)
Suite, op.5

Nadia Boulanger (1887–1979)
Pièce sur des airs populaires flamands

JS Bach (1685–1750) / Ferruccio Busoni (1866–1924)
Chaconne (arr. Battiwalla)

Percy Whitlock (1903–1946)
Four Extemporisations

Marcel Dupré (1886–1971)
Prelude and Fugue in G minor, op.7 no.3

Darius took up the post of Leeds City Organist in 2017, programming the very successful Town Hall recital series and giving regular solo concerts. He is currently overseeing the renewal of the Leeds Town Hall organ. Recent performances include the recitals at the Cathedrals of Coventry, Lincoln, Ripon, and Lichfield, and this year sees appearances with Collegium Vocale Gent in Ghent and Amsterdam, and the annual recital for the Royal College of Organists conferment of diplomas.  He recently premiered a new work by Ian Farrington for organ and brass band, and later this year he will be part of the premiere of a new work for four organs by James Wood commemorating the Great Storm of 1674, to be performed simultaneously by organists across Europe. He has recently released a CD, recorded by audiophile label Base2 Music, including the Whitlock Sonata and works by Fela Sowande and Percy Grainger. A former finalist of the St Albans Improvisation competition, he taught organ and improvisation for many years at the Royal Northern College of Music, and improvises for silent films on both organ and piano, including a regular silent film series at the National Media Museum.

Darius is music director of the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, and has worked regularly with other choirs including the CBSO chorus and the Netherlands Radio Choir. He has had arrangements commissioned by the Halle, CBSO, Bournemouth SO and Black Dyke Band.

The St Albans International Organ Festival presents monthly Saturday concerts throughout the year. 

Entrance and programme are free, with charitable donations invited to support future events presented by the St Albans International Organ Festival.