ST JOHN’S COLLEGE ORGAN RECITAL SERIES
Easter Term 2023
SUNDAY 30 APRIL 18:00
Sam Jones - Organ Scholar
Clare College
Martlew Starlude
J.S. Bach Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot BWV 678
Weir Ettrick Banks
J.S. Bach Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott BWV 740
MacMillan Toccata
N.B. THERE IS NO RECITAL ON SUNDAY 7 MAY
SUNDAY 14 MAY 18:00
Charles Francis
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
J.S. Bach Toccata in C BVW 564a
Schumann Innig (Six Studies in Canonic Form)
Mendelssohn Sonata no. 1 in F minor
SUNDAY 21 MAY 18:00
Freddie James - Former St John’s Organ Scholar
Lucerne, Switzerland
Buxtehude Praeludium in E minor BuxWV 142
Purcell Voluntary in G major
Purcell Voluntary in D minor
Byrd Ut re mi fa sol la
SUNDAY 28 MAY 18:00
Rachel Mahon
Coventry Cathedral
Laurin Symphonie no. 1:
i. Prelude
ii. Scherzo
J.S. Bach Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542
SUNDAY 11 JUNE 18:00
Dewi Rees
Westminster Abbey
Duruflé Suite op. 5:
i. Prélude
ii. Sicilienne
iii. Toccata
SUNDAY 4 JUNE 18:00
Benedict Turner-Berry - Organ Scholar
Corpus Christi College
J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in E flat major BWV 552 Pott Slane (Three Hymn Tune Fantasias)
Widor Marche Pontificale (Organ Symphony no. 1)
SUNDAY 18 JUNE 18:00
Alex Trigg - Former Organ Scholar
St John’s College
Vierne Sur le Rhin (24 Pièces de fantasie)
Howells Rhapsody no. 1 in D flat major
Whitlock Folk Tune
Duruflé Fugue sur le thème du Carillon des Heures de la Cathédrale de Soissons
N.B. THERE IS NO RECITAL ON SUNDAY 25 JUNE
SUNDAY 2 JULY 18:00
Alex Robson - Herbert Howells Organ Scholar
St John’s College, Cambridge
Pärt Trivium
J.S. Bach Trio Sonata no. 3 BWV 527
Messiaen Méditation VIII (Méditations sur le mystère de la Sainte Trinité)
SUNDAY 9 JULY 18:00
George Herbert - Assistant Organist
St John’s College
Reubke Sonata on the 94th Psalm
A full specification of the Mander Organ is available here.
Samuel Jones is in his third year studying Music at Clare College, where he is the Sir William McKee Senior Organ Scholar. He started playing the organ whilst at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford where he gained valuable experience accompanying the Chamber Choir at venues such as Keble College, Oxford and St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the Sixth Form, he was appointed Organ Scholar of the Chapel Royal, St. James’ Palace, London where he had the opportunity to play at a broadcast Ballroom Carol Service from Buckingham Palace and at the Royal Maundy service held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
After leaving school in 2019, Samuel spent a Gap Year as Organ Scholar at Portsmouth Cathedral, where he assisted in accompanying the cathedral choirs in their 6 weekly services and the Choral Scholars in concerts throughout the year. He also acted as choir librarian and worked in an administrative role at Portsmouth Grammar School.
During his time at Clare he has enjoyed playing for multiple BBC Radio 3 and In Tune Broadcasts as well as recording projects. In addition to his duties with the chapel choir, he last year also acted as organist for St John’s Voices.
Charles Francis is a young organist with a growing reputation across the UK. Recent engagements include recitals at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and St John’s, Smith Square in London, as well as cathedrals in Truro, Portsmouth and Newcastle. Charles’ playing has earned him various accolades, including First Prizes in both the IAO/RCO Organ Playing Competition (2022) and the Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Competition (2019). Charles is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and works as Assistant Director of Music at St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton.
Before this, Charles spent two years as Organ Scholar at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
Charles is currently an undergraduate student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying the organ with Daniel Moult and Nicholas Wearne. This also allows for regular opportunities to study with Prof. Martin Schmeding (Visiting Professor) and Prof. Nathan Laube (International Consultant). During this time, he has been accompanist to the critically acclaimed Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Skidmore and Paul Spicer. In November 2022, and on the nomination of the Conservatoire, Charles was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians – awarded to an ‘outstanding student’ of each institution.
Freddie James studied organ at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Jacques van Oortmerssen for a year before reading Music as organ scholar at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, graduating with a double first, which he followed with an MPhil degree. Whilst at Cambridge, he had organ lessons with Gordon Stewart. Subsequently he studied organ and harpsichord at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Künste, Stuttgart with Ludger Lohmann and Jörg Halubek, and at the Schola Cantorum, Basel, with Andrea Marcon, Tobias Lindner and Francesco Corti.
Freddie has given many solo recitals around Europe, including at the Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Coventry Cathedral, St John’s Smith Square, Huddersfield Town Hall, Grote Laurenskerk Rotterdam, Stiftskirche Stuttgart, Grossmünster Zurich. He is also in demand as a continuo player on organ and harpsichord, and has performed with a number of groups, including the Venice Baroque Orchestra, London Mozart Players, the English Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble, Il Gusto Barocco, Ensemble Corund, Staatsorchester Kassel, and the Philharmonia Orchestra.
He has won prizes at international organ competitions in Innsbruck, Alkmaar, Wiesbaden, Boston, Béthune, Treviso, Pistoia and Sion. He is organist of the Franziskanerkirche, Lucerne, with its two historic organs, and teaches organ at the Musikhochschule Lucerne.
Rachel Mahon was appointed Director of Music at Coventry Cathedral in 2020 after having held positions at Chester Cathedral and St Paul’s Cathedral where she was the first female organist on staff in the cathedral’s 1500-year history. Rachel completed her Bachelor of Music degree under John Tuttle at the University of Toronto in 2013 and then moved to the UK where she continued to study with Henry Fairs at the Birmingham Conservatoire and took up the organ scholarship at Truro Cathedral. She combines life as a Cathedral musician with a busy international recital schedule, playing in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Canada and Australia. Rachel tours as a soloist and with Organized Crime Duo which she founded with Sarah Svendsen in 2012. She has appeared on radio as performer and presenter, most recently accompanying the BBC Singers and presenting Inside Music on BBC Radio 3 and This Is My Music on CBC radio. Funded by a grant awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Rachel’s debut solo album with Delphian Records was released to excellent reviews - it received five stars in Choir & Organ Magazine and was Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice in March 2020.
rachelmahon.co.uk
Benedict Turner-Berry is the Organ Scholar for St John’s Voices, where he accompanies the choir for their regular pattern of services and concerts. Prior to this Benedict read music at the University of Cambridge, graduating with a first-class degree, which he followed with an MPhil degree. During his time as an undergraduate, Benedict was Organ Scholar at Corpus Christi College where he had organ lessons with Robin Walker and Kerry Beaumont.
Aside from playing the Organ, Benedict is also a keen singer having held a postgraduate choral scholarship in the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, where he now serves as a lay clerk. During his time at Cambridge, Benedict has enjoyed playing and singing for multiple BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, including the recent broadcast of ‘Easter from King’s’ as well as a choral evensong with St John’s Voices.
Outside his practical music making, Benedict has a strong passion for ethnomusicology, his research focussing on the intersection of migration, music and citizenship. He is excited to further this research when he commences his doctoral studies in October at the University of Cambridge where he will be generously supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Dewi Rees is the Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey, where he shares the playing for services with the Sub-Organist and Assistant Organist, and assists in the training of the Choristers and the running of the Music Department.
Dewi read Music at Jesus College, Cambridge, where, as Organ Scholar and then Assistant Organist, he performed in services, concerts and recordings with the College’s two choirs. He moved to St Albans Cathedral in 2020 to spend two years as Organ Scholar where, in addition to assisting in the daily worship of the Cathedral, he performed at the St Albans International Organ Festival and featured on CD recordings in an organ duet by Elizabeth Lutyens with Tom Winpenny, and with St Albans Cathedral Choir.
In September Dewi will take up the post of Assistant Organist at Bath Abbey.
Alex Trigg is a second year music student here at St John’s, and was formerly organ scholar under Andrew Nethsingha. He is a Fellow of The Royal College of Organists, and spent his gap year working at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. After a year-long sabbatical from organ playing, Alex is delighted to be returning to this chapel next year to work with St John’s Voices, and to be resuming a schedule of solo recitals, which have previously included concerts at Hereford and Blackburn cathedrals, as well as several Cambridge college chapels. Aside from the organ, this term is a busy one for Alex; he is directing a performance of Handel’s Rodelina at Caius College, and playing harpsichord for Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero at Sidney Sussex. He is also accompanying the complete songs of Gerald Finzi with nine different singers, in a series of recitals at Trinity Hall. Alex is a keen believer in the power of amateur and youth music, and is heavily involved in the management of many local groups in his home county of Kent. Before leaving school, he had raised over £7,000 for various charities by organising concerts, and has volunteered his time in several primary schools to inspire musicians of the future.
Alex Robson is the Organ Scholar at St John’s, where he studies Music in his first year. Alex found his love for music on the piano at age 6, and began organ lessons when he started secondary school. He received his ARCO diploma in 2019 and while still at school he played for the parish choir at St Paul’s, Rusthall for services, concerts and cathedral visits. He has also played the piano and clarinet in the Kent Youth Wind Orchestra and Kent Country Youth Orchestra. In 2021, Alex was Organ Scholar at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he played regularly for the daily services and special events. Besides accompanying the choir, he enjoyed teaching the younger choristers in the mornings as girls were admitted for the first time, and conducting the Lay Clerks once a fortnight. Particular highlights of the year included recordings with the choir, the services in Holy Week including the Royal Maundy service, and the Garter Day service. Alex studies the organ with Ann Elise Smoot, and the piano with Marie-Noëlle Kendall. He has given recitals in Cambridge, London and Oxford, and looks forward to the tours and recordings with the College Choir. His other interests include cross-country running and learning foreign languages.
George Herbert is the Assistant Organist at St John’s, following three years as the choir’s Organ Scholar whilst he studied Music and German. Born in Manchester in 2001, his passion for music was kindled in earnest when he started singing in Manchester Cathedral Choir aged nine.
He joined Chetham’s School of Music at this time too, where he studied the trumpet after leaving the cathedral’s choir. He played alongside the Gabrieli Consort in their recording An English Coronation, studied music therapy, was involved in the school’s orchestras and big bands and at 16 he returned to Manchester Cathedral as Organ Scholar.
In his first two years in Cambridge, he was a pianist in Pembroke College’s Lieder Scheme, taking regular classes with accompanist Joseph Middleton. He won first prize and accompanist’s prize in Clare College’s Song Competition in 2021. In his final two years as a student, he was co-musical director of the Gents of St John’s, and played in the St John’s College Big Band. In 2020 George conducted St John’s Sinfonia and the College Choir in Bach’s Actus Tragicus cantata, and in 2021 he conducted the choir’s Advent Carol Service, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. George is a passionate environmentalist: he studied Cold War East Germany’s environmental policy and foreign relations for his final year dissertation, and now volunteers with the RSPB.
George now directs Aquila, the College’s all-female a capella ensemble, and is building a varied freelance career as an animateur, pianist, organist and trumpeter. He is a coach on the Oxford and Cambridge Singing School, and enjoys regular work with Kantos Chamber Choir, the Armonico Consort, and funk band Lepage-Dean. In March 2023, he played the organ for the Manchester premiere of Bernstein’s monumental Mass with the Royal Northern College of Music. He works as an accompanist at the Royal Academy of Music, and collaborates with singers and instrumentalists around the country.
