RCO Academy Organ School | Teacher List

Professor David Baker MA, MMus, MLS, PhD, MBA, FCILIP, FCMI, FRCO, FRSA

By the time that he was 16, David Baker was an ARCO, becoming FRCO 12 months later. He graduated after an Organ Scholarship at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, with a First Class Honours degree in Music. He has an MMus degree from King’s College, London. In 2011 he founded the Halifax Organ Academy, which aims to offer high quality tuition and support to organists of all ages and backgrounds within northern England.


He has remained active as musician and musicologist, with the first edition of his book The Organ (Shire Publications, 1991) selling over 10,000 copies. A second edition was published in 2003 and a second revised edition in 2010. He has undertaken recital tours to Germany, Italy and Scandinavia and has performed the entire organ works of J S Bach in 26 recitals.
ttp://halifaxorganacademy.com/

Tom enjoys a varied freelance solo career as an organist, based in London and active across the UK and abroad. Recent performances have taken him to mainland Europe and the USA; he undertook two tours to the latter in 2013. 2014 has seen Tom's debut at the Royal Festival Hall, where he appeared as a soloist twice during the Pull Out All The Stops festival, which celebrated the restoration of the epoch-making RFH organ. Both concerts were broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In addition to his work for the RCO Academy Organ School, Tom teaches the organ at the Royal Hospital School in Suffolk, is involved with the Eton Organworks outreach scheme and has given masterclasses at conservatories on both sides of the Atlantic.

Richard Brasier BMus(Hons), MMus (Orgelsolo), ARCO, LRAM, ATCL
Richard is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with David Titterington and Nicolas Kynaston. He continued his studies with Johannes Geffert at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz, Köln, aided by the Nicholas Danby Scholarship. Richard currently teaches privately at St Laurence Parish Church, Upminster, where he is Director of Music. In addition to his private teaching, he holds the post of organ tutor at Sevenoaks School. He also regularly leads group masterclasses on a variety of performance-related topics.
Richard is in demand as a soloist and accompanist at major festivals and venues across the UK and Europe. Since 2012, he has been an editor for Dr.J.Butz Musikverlag in Bonn. His edition of organ music by William Wolstenholme has been met with critical acclaim.

www.richardbrasier.com

Gerard Brooks FRCO, MA(Oxon.), PGCE.

Gerard first studied the organ with John Webster and then with Susi Jeans. In 1978 he won the Stephen Arlen Memorial Award enabling him to study with Daniel Roth at Strasbourg Conservatoire. He was the first recipient of the RCO Forsyth-Grant/Hurford Travelling Scholarship. Gerard is particularly associated with French repertoire and has contributed many articles to musical journals as well as writing the chapter on French and Belgian organ music for the Cambridge Companion to the Organ. His recordings on the Priory label include the complete works of Eugène Gigout played on historic organs in France on five CDs; the first voted an Editor’s Choice in Gramophone magazine. He has recently recorded the complete organ music of Saint-Saëns and he presents and plays on the Fugue State Films DVD “The Genius of Cavaillé-Coll”. Gerard is Director of the London Organ Improvisation Course and has been a regular examiner for the Associated Board and the RCO.
ww.gerardbrooks.org.uk

Jonathan Bunney BMus (Hons), MMus, ARCO

In 2000 Jonathan was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. His teachers have included Anne Marsden Thomas, Nigel Stark, David Graham and Margaret Phillips. During his time at the RCM he won all the major prizes for organ. In 2004 Jonathan became Director of Music at St. Giles-in-the-Fields and in 2008 he returned to the RCM to study for a Masters in Advanced Performance, achieving a distinction. He was also awarded the Walford Davies Prize for his performance of Louis Vierne's Sixth Symphony. Since graduating, Jonathan has worked as a freelance musician as well as Head of Music at Cameron House School in Chelsea from 2011-2014. Jonathan has made several broadcasts on radio and part of his CD 'Let the Pealing Organ Blow' produced by Regents Records on the historic organ of St. Giles-in-the Fields was broadcast on BBC Radio 2

Timothy Byram-Wigfield MA (Hons), MMus, FRCO

For ten years Tim was Director of Music of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, following appointments at Jesus College, Cambridge, and St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, where, in 1991, he was appointed the first full-time Master of Music.

Now, in order to devote more time to playing and teaching, Tim has taken up the post of Director of Music at All Saints' Margaret Street, in Central London, where he has custody of the vintage 4-manual Harrison and Harrison organ of 1910. His wide repertoire includes the complete works of Messiaen and Alfred Hollins. He performs in many countries, including frequent tours in the USA, and he regularly makes recordings. Gramophone magazine nominated his disc of transcribed overtures at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow, for Recording of the Year.

Andrew Cantrill BA FRCO FRSA studied the organ at Durham University with James Lancelot, and privately with Susi Jeans, Peter Wright, & Gerre Hancock. From 1992 to 2012, he worked in cathedral music, directing the choirs at Grimsby Minster, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo, & Croydon Minster.
Andrew has appeared at leading cathedrals & concert halls in the UK, America, & New Zealand, and has broadcast live on Radio 3, NPR, & Radio NZ. His repertoire ranges from the 14th century to the present day, he is an accomplished improviser, and whilst in Wellington, he appeared regularly with the NZSO as concerto soloist.
In recent years, Andrew has established a strong reputation as a freelance organist. During 2013 he performed in the Edinburgh Festival and Britten centenary celebrations. He is an examiner for the ABRSM.
Andrew has over 20 years experience as a teacher, working with students of all ages & abilities.
www.andrewcantrill.com

Roger Carter FRCO (CHM), FTCL, ARCM, LRAM
Roger studied the organ initially with Christopher Scarf and Richard Popplewell, In 1984 he was awarded a Belgian Government Scholarship to study with Flor Peeters at the Mechelen International Summer School. Following participation in the Haarlem Summer Academy in 1988, he was invited by Harald Vogel to take part in a recital on the city's historic St Bavochurch organ. He has also participated in courses in France and Germany and with Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini in Italy to gain specialist knowledge of various sections of the organ repertoire.
Performing widely as a soloist and accompanist in this country and abroad has offered him experience of playing many different types of organs.
He is often invited to tutor on courses, including those run by the RCO and RSCM, and is Director of Music at St John's Church, Harpenden. Formerly a classroom teacher, he is now a visiting teacher at Queenswood School and The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys’ School.

Gabriele Damiani BMus (Hons), ARCO, QTS, Dip. Turin Conservatoire
Gabriele (Gabs) studied at the Turin Conservatoire and afterwards with Anne Marsden Thomas at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As part of his BMus he attended classes with P. Hurford, A. Marcon, L. Lohmann and J. van Oortmerssen, among others, and several courses in counterpoint, conducting, continuo and accompaniment. During his final year he became Church Music Scholar at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and was later appointed Organ Scholar at Westminster RC Cathedral.
An ARCO prize-winner, Gabs joined the RCO Academy in 2012 as a teacher for the Oxford area, and specialises in practice techniques and Baroque repertoire at all levels. A visiting tutor at the University of St Andrews and co-founder of the Accademia Organistica in Trieste, Italy, he continues to pursue a regular and successful performing career across the UK and abroad.

Dr Richard Godfrey MD, FRCP, ARCO.

Richard studied the organ with a number of teachers, including Margaret Phillips and Anne Marsden Thomas. He holds the Associateship of the Royal College of Organists, and won the RCO's Percy Whitlock prize for organ teaching in 1999. Richard now devotes increasing time to teaching the organ, and especially concentrates on increasing the number of young organists in the Salisbury Diocese through the "PipeUp" Scheme. He works with several choirs, and gives regular concerts as solo organist and piano accompanist. He is organist at Chideock and Lyme Regis R.C. churches. As Organ Consultant to the Diocese of Salisbury he understands well the challenges of playing ageing but still musically worthy Victorian instruments, and has himself built a 24-stop mechanical-action organ in Farley Church, near Salisbury. Richard is a retired medical specialist in lung disease, who still teaches for the World Health Organisation.

Marilyn Harper MA, FRCO, GRSM, ARMCM, Cert Ed.
Marilyn studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music with the late Eric Chadwick, Derrick Cantrell, and trained as a teacher at St Katharine’s College, Liverpool. As organ scholar at Girton College, Marilyn studied the organ with Dame Gillian Weir. She began a teaching career in North West England, and subsequently at James Allen’s Girls' School in South East London, continuing to be active as a recitalist and choral director.
Marilyn founded the highly successful organ recital series at Christ's Chapel Dulwich, featuring the 1760 George England organ, restored in 2009 by the late William Drake. She continues to accompany choirs in UK cathedrals, chapels and churches and throughout the world. Recital work extends throughout London. In addition she is a regular singing member, organist and deputy conductor of Friends' Musick and the Alleyn Singers. Marilyn has composed sacred choral music and secular part song arrangements

PhD BMus(Hons)/GradRNCM FNCM ARCO LTCL DipLCM PGCE(QTS)

Robin began lessons with Graham Eccles, gaining his Grade 8 in two years. At 15 he received a bursary towards masterclasses with David Titterington and Petr Eben at Dartington International Summer School. Regular teachers were Noel Rawsthorne, Margaret Phillips (RNCM) and Roger Fisher. His PhD is on “The Late Style of Frank Bridge”. He has recently played at Ripon and Durham Cathedrals and York Minster.

He taught Academic Studies to RNCM undergraduates and has been Director of Music at independent schools internationally. His pupils have won exam awards for 8 years.

His teaching is Kodaly-derived with activities to develop the inner hearing of contrapuntal music alongside finger gym exercises. His experience is broad having lived with tribes, performed as a jazz improviser, director of a Gospel-Rock-Pop choir, performed and coached in theatres for shows such as We Will Rock You. His composition commissions have taken him to the USA

Daniel Moult, MA (Oxon), FRCO

Daniel studied at Oxford University (where he gained the FRCO diploma with three of the top playing prizes) and the Amsterdam Conservatorium. He is a sought after educator, and teaches through the RCO Academy Organ School, on many masterclasses, workshops and courses around the world, as well as maintaining regular teaching positions at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, Birmingham Conservatoire and Wells Cathedral School. He examines for the RCO and ABRSM. Recent solo performances have taken him to Australia, New Zealand and France, as well as many profile venues in the UK. He has published several editions, including the ‘Easy Bach Album’ and the upcoming ‘Easy Handel Album’ with Bärenreiter. He broadcasts frequently on BBC television and radio and has recorded as a soloist for various record labels including Sony BMG, Fugue State Films and Regent. For further information please visit www.danielmoult.com.

James Parsons MA (Oxon), FRCO

hails from Birmingham (where is now an organ tutor at the Conservatoire). He was organ scholar of Exeter College, Oxford and proceeded to periods of post-graduate study with Ralph Downes, Geraint Jones, Peter Hurford and Jacques van Oortmerssen.
During a long career on the staff of Oundle School, James founded and ran for 25 years Oundle for Organists, thus opening doors for hundreds of young organists through inspirational summer schools—courses which he now delivers through RCO Academy. James is also known as an international concert organist and recording artist.
Engaged for his articulate appeal as a clinician, he recently fronted a new Organ Academy in Sydney, catering for all ages and levels, and of course often engages with students in classes run by RCO Academy Organ School.
James is an RCO examiner and sits on the College’s Academic Board. He was the first Education Editor for Organists' Review and has long been a Vice-President of the Organ Club.

Nicholas Stefano Prozzillo MA (Oxon) MMus DPhil CertHE


Nicholas hails directly from Swansea and indirectly from Morcone (Italy). His teachers include Dame Gillian Weir. He studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Brasenose College, and the Royal College of Music where he completed his MMus with distinction. He was a Junior Fellow at the RCM, an Edison Fellow at the British Sound Archive, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, where he was also Director of Music. He was also Organ Tutor at the Abbey School in Reading. Nicholas completed his doctorate under the supervision of Laurence Dreyfus and guidance of Peter Williams.


Nicholas enjoys teaching students of all ages in all areas of the repertoire, with particular interest in Italian literature and the music of J S Bach. He has an interest in European organs, having played many historic instruments. Recent recitals include Westminster and Coventry Cathedrals. He has published articles in JBIOS and the Organ Yearbook.

Frederick Stocken MA (Cantab), PhD, FRCO.


Frederick was Organ Scholar of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge where he studied with Peter Hurford. He won five prizes at ARCO and three at FRCO. His PhD is from the University of Manchester on nineteenth-century harmonic theory.

Frederick is Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St George’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Southwark. Alongside his teaching for the RCO, Frederick teaches at Hertford College, Oxford and examines for the ABRSM.

Frederick has had many commissions as a composer, including a symphony for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a ballet for the State Theatre in Giessen, Germany and an orchestral mass for the Brompton Oratory. He has had music published by OUP and Banks, and is especially active as a composer for organ. His Scale Shapes (Chester Music) is a well-known tutor for piano. For more details: www.frederickstocken.com

Anne Marsden Thomas FRCO, FRSCM, B. Mus, ARAM, Dip RAM, LRAM, ARCM.
Anne studied at The Royal Academy of Music and afterwards with Dame Gillian Weir. She founded St. Giles International Organ School in 1992 and directed it until January 2012 when it became part of RCO Academy. She has over 40 years' experience of organ teaching and wide experience of examining grade examinations and diplomas. She is Director of Music at St. Giles Cripplegate Church in London's Barbican.

Anne's concert and teaching work has taken her to the USA, Japan, Europe and all over the UK and she has made several commercial recordings. She has compiled and/or edited 19 books for the student organist, all of which are still in print. She has published many articles for organists and their teachers, including a long-running series ‘Anne Marsden Thomas's Organ Lessons’ published in both ‘Church Music Quarterly’ and ‘The American Organist’.

Gerdi Troskie BMus, MMus

Gerdi Troskie completed her BMus and MMus degrees at the University of Port Elizabeth, South Africa and continued with post-graduate organ studies at the Amsterdam Conservatorium with Jacques van Oortmerssen. She was awarded the Conservatorium’s Soloist's Diploma (organ) in 1996.


In 1996 Gerdi moved to the UK. She taught organ and musicianship at the Royal College of Music Junior Department from 1998-2005. Gerdi was Organist and Director of Music at St Anselm and St Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, Holborn, London from 1996-2002 and joined the Organ School team of professional teachers in 2000. Gerdi has taught on many courses, including the RCO Summer Course, and has directed courses for young organists at Oundle.


She has played recitals in the UK, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and South Africa. She has written articles for Organists’ Review magazine and adjudicated organ classes at Arts Festivals.

Simon Williams BA (Dunelm), FRCO, LRAM, PGCE
Simon studied at Durham University, where he was organ scholar of St Chad's College, and at the Royal College of Music. He has over 30 years' experience in organ teaching and has twice acted as a consultant for the ABRSM's organ exam syllabus. He is Organist & Director of Music at the Central London church of St George's Hanover Square W1 where he teaches on the acclaimed mechanical action organ by Richards, Fowkes & Co of 2012. He is also organ teacher at the Royal Masonic School Rickmansworth.

Simon has given organ recitals across the UK and in Europe and has given first performances of several pieces dedicated to him. As Music Director of Harrow Choral Society he has conducted many of the major choral works. He has had articles published in Choir & Organ Magazine, Organists' Review, and The American Organist; has recorded a number of CDs; and took part in the commissioning of new works for Faber Music's Unbeaten Tracks album for organ.