International Organ Festival wants new members
The 2013 St Albans organ competition prizewinners on the organ staircase – Jihoon Song, Anna-Victoria Baltrusch, Martin Sturm, Benjamin Sheen, Simon Thomas Jacobs
Whenever I bump into the people who help run the St Albans International Organ Festival I’m impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm. They are one of the secrets of the success of the Festival, which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary. John Morrish, who manages the membership, recently contacted me to say they are very keen to encourage more people to join the organisation, and help safeguard the Festival for the next 50 years.
Founded by Peter Hurford in 1963, the Festival pulls in leading musicians and audiences from all over the world. It’s held every two years, with a mini-festival in the between years and a monthly programme of Saturday recitals by distinguished international organists. It takes place around the magnificent Norman Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban in Hertforshire, England, and its aim is to demonstrate the potential of the organ, outside of accompanying church services. So find solo recitals, improvisation, orchestral music – not forgetting the organ competitions which attract young organists from all over the world to be heard by a jury of international standing. The roll call of past winners is impressive, and includes Kimberly Marshall, Kevin Bowyer, Stephen Farr, Ann Elise Smoot, Thomas Trotter and Gillian Weir.
If being part of this appeals, then Membership costs £25 per year. IOF members have the opportunity to enjoy the organ recitals and priority booking for festival events, as well as being part of the community that preserves the spirit and purpose of the festival. You can join online at Festival Membership, or e-mail administrator(at)organfestival.com or telephone the IOF office on 01727 844 765. If you join now, you will get 20 months membership for the price of 12.
The website of the IOF is here, they have a Facebook page, and you can follow them on Twitter @Organ_Festival
To give you a flavour of the mini-festival this year, here’s the brochure for the 2013-14 concert series: IOF_Saturday_Organ_concert_series_13-14
St Albans Abbey, and the Harrison & Harrison organ – the focus of the International Organ Festival every two years
This page would not be complete without the specification of the 1962 Harrison & Harrison organ at the Cathedral, restored by the builders 2007-2009
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