Organ Recital
The 2025 Truro Cathedral Organ Recital Series welcomes first-rate organists to play Truro’s acclaimed Father Willis Organ. This recital will not be live-streamed.
This week, we welcome our director of music, James Anderson-Besant, as our recitalist for a special organ recital.
This is a rare opportunity to sit up close to the organ console of the cathedral's historic 1750 Byfield organ, within St Mary's Aisle, and hear some of the greatest music by J.S. Bach (who also died in 1750). The seating will be specially arranged aroung the organ itself to give audience members a unique, involved experience. All are invited to attend, in person, this exciting recital.
Programme
Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 544 from Clavier-Übung III: Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, BWV 672
Fugue in E minor, BWV 548ii from Clavier-Übung III: Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot, BWV 678
Fugue in G minor, BWV 542ii from Clavier-Übung III: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 686
Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541
Live-stream - Please note
As this recital is taking place on the Byfield organ in St Mary's Aisle, there will be no live-stream.
Bio
Born in 1998, James Anderson-Besant grew up in Oxfordshire. He started learning the keyboard at primary school with Judith Ward, who ran the choir at St Helen’s Church, Benson; James joined the choir and later became its organist. He attended Abingdon School on academic and music scholarships.
After taking a gap year as the organ scholar of Gloucester Cathedral, which included teaching the first girl choristers in the cathedral’s history, James then spent four years as organ scholar, then assistant organist, of St John’s College Cambridge. With the College Choir, he accompanied services, broadcasts, recordings and tours under the direction of Andrew Nethsingha, and helped train the choristers. He has broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, and his playing for St John’s appears on many acclaimed CD releases. A student of Stephen Farr, James won second prize at the 2019 Northern Ireland International Organ Competition. He graduated in 2020 with a double starred first degree in music, and during the following year supervised Cambridge music students in harmony and keyboard skills. While at university, James organised and directed student performances of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St John Passion.
From 2021 to 2023, James was assistant director of music at Exeter Cathedral, where he supported Timothy Noon in the training of the choristers and in the choir’s musical rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. He also directed the St Peter’s Singers, the cathedral’s auditioned voluntary choir.
In 2023, at the age of twenty-four, James was appointed director of music and organist of Truro Cathedral, becoming the youngest cathedral organist in the country. At Truro, James directs the acclaimed cathedral choir in its daily rehearsals and services, and is responsible for all aspects of the cathedral’s musical output. He also directs the Three Spires Singers and Orchestra, with which he has performed Bach’s Mass in B minor, Mozart’s Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Handel’s Messiah and Rachmaninov’s Vespers; this term he will conduct Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 and Ein Deutsches Requiem.
In his spare time James enjoys walking, exploring Cornwall, and reading about history and engineering.
The series runs from March to October and each recital lasts around 45 minutes. There is no charge to attend or listen to these concerts, and the cathedral only asks that if you are able, you consider making a donation - the income generated by the generosity of both the audience and artists (who play for free) directly supports music at the cathedral and the ability to continue to offer such community events.
Truro Cathedral is a registered charity number 1207821 and relies on public donations to meet costs. Truro Cathedral welcomes regular or single donations from its supporters.
To give regularly by Direct Debit, please use the Parish Giving Scheme
Single donations can be made through the cathedral website
Popular donations are £5/person