Simon Walker

Friday 14th August 2009 1:00 PM, Holy Trinity Church, Hereford

The last of the RCO Young Organists Recitals in the Hereford Three Choirs Festival, featuring players who have recently attained ARCO.

J S Bach (1685 – 1750)
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 654

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
Sonata 2 in C minor

Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937)
Adagio from Symphony no 3

Alexandre Guilmant (1837 – 1911)
March on a Theme of Handel


Simon started his musical education as a chorister at Durham Cathedral between 1995 and 2000, where he studied piano and trombone from the age of eight. In September 2000 he was awarded a music scholarship to Barnard Castle School, County Durham and subsequently started taking organ lessons. From September 2003 to July 2005 he held the school’s sixth-form organ scholarship, which involved duties playing for daily chapel services and accompanying the Chapel Choir. During his last year at school he regularly played for services at St. Cuthbert’s Church Darlington.

Simon moved to Edinburgh in September 2005 to study music at Edinburgh University and graduated in July this year. Since September 2006 he has been the Organ Scholar at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral and accompanist to the Edinburgh University Music Society Chorus. Simon has been awarded Edinburgh University’s Hollins and Anderson organ prizes, and for the latter was invited to give an organ recital at the McEwan Hall which took place on 26th October 2007 as part of the University recital series. Since then Simon has performed recitals at several venues including Holy Trinity Church Hull, the Kelvingrove Gallery in Glasgow and the Cathedrals of St. Mary and St Giles in Edinburgh. Last August he was awarded the Associate diploma of the Royal College of Organists.

Organists he has studied with include Dr. John Kitchen (Edinburgh University Organist and City Organist), Nicholas Wearne (St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral) and Michael Harris (St. Giles Cathedral). In September Simon moves to Chester Cathedral to take up the organ scholarship.

Away from music, Simon has a passion for classic cars, especially old Citroens and enjoys driving a maroon and yellow 2CV.

http://www.3choirs.org/2009-hereford/programme/friday-14-august/rco-young-organists-recital-simon-walker.html