Organ Festival at St. Andrew’s, Steyning - May and June 2011

At last my plans for an Organ Festival at St. Andrew’s, after the completion of work to the instrument, have come to fruition.

As far as I am aware there has not been a similar event since the organ was installed in 1968. Therefore my thanks go to my friends and colleagues listed in the programme below who will be giving concerts throughout May and June. Please note the dates and times because they are not in a regular pattern.
Admission to the concerts is free and there will be a retiring collection.

Organ Festival Programme:
• Saturday 7th May - 7.00pm - Brian Sawyer
• Friday 13th May - 1.00pm - John Collins
• Tuesday 17th May - 7.30pm - William Hayward
• Sunday 22nd May - 11.00am approx - Brian Sawyer
• Saturday 28th May - 4.00pm - Malcolm Kemp
• Saturday 11th June - 7.30pm - Simon Harrison
• Friday 17th June - 1.00pm - Michael Maine
• Tuesday 21st June - 7.30pm - Philip Adams
• Saturday 25th June - 4.00pm - John Henville

I shall be opening the festival with a concert that includes music by Bach, Reger and some of my favourite ‘Lollipops’. I shall also be playing Edward Elgar’s Organ Sonata after the morning service on Sunday, 22nd May.

John Collins is the organist of St. George’s, East Worthing and is a recognised authority on the performance of English, Italian and Spanish keyboard music. William Hayward has worked as M.D. and arranger with Russell Watson and Katherine Jenkins and has been organist of Hammersmith Parish Church and Shrewsbury Abbey.

Malcolm Kemp is a free-lance organist based in Brighton and his concert will include music by Widor, Marcel Dupré, Rheinberger and Mendelssohn. Simon Harrison is well known locally as a singer and the centrepiece of his concert will be a performance of Vaughan Williams’ beautiful song cycle ‘Songs of Travel’. Michael Maine was the organist of Hove Parish Church for many years and was ordained recently. Philip Adams lives in Steyning and is the organist of St Michael and All Angels in Brighton. His programme will include music by Bach and Vierne. John Henville will bring the festival to a close with his concert. He is the conductor of the Arun Choral Society and the organist of Lyminster Parish Church.

Brian Sawyer, Organist of St. Andrew and St. Cuthman’s Church.

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