The St Albans International Organ Festival presents arguably the world’s leading organ competition. Its roll-call of past prize-winners includes many of today’s most influential organists.
For two weeks our biennial festival celebrates organs and a lot more besides. A diverse mix of large-scale and intimate concerts, talks, workshops, art exhibitions and fringe events offers something for everyone and complements the organ competition itself. Events are centred around the magnificent Norman cathedral of St Albans and spread out across this beautiful historic city. Important venues in London host additional competition rounds and performances.
The festival attracts leading performers from around the world together with the very best young organists. It was founded in 1963 by the distinguished organist Peter Hurford OBE (1930–2019).
🎶The Queen has approved the award of Her Majesty’s Medal for Music 2020 to Thomas Trotter.
Mr. Trotter is one of the world’s most revered concert organists, and is the 16th recipient of the award ➡️ https://bit.ly/3kVHypA
Our founder Peter Hurford would have been 90 today.
What a day for musical birthdays!! Among others, WF Bach, apparently Bach's favourite son (1710); Rodrigo (Concierto de Aranjuez etc) (1901); wizard cellist Emmanuel Feuermann (1902); master of all music Benjamin Britten (1913); and of course our own cuddly @houghhough (whenever)
Huge congratulations to our President and 1979 winner Thomas Trotter, who has been announced as this year’s recipient of The Queen’s Medal for Music
We have to wait a while longer for the return of our Saturday concerts. The good news is that Thomas Trotter has kindly agreed to perform on 27th February, instead of later this month as was planned. https://organfestival.com/concerts/
David Titterington to chair jury at online @NIIOC1 from Belfast – @ChoirandOrgan reports https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/choir_organ/northern-ireland-international-organ-competition-goes-online/