Organ Recital
The 2024 Cathedral Organ Recital Series welcomes first-rate organists to play Truro’s acclaimed Father Willis Organ. This week we welcome father and son John Wyatt and Andrew Wyatt, and will feature duets and some solo repertoire. This recital will be live-streamed on this page at 13:10 (please scroll down) and the cathedral Youtube Channel
Programme
Overture from the Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
A Fancy for four hands by Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656)
Introduction to Bach’s ‘great’ fugue in E flat by Samuel Wesley (1766-1837)
Fugue in E flat ‘St Anne’ BWV 552 by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Sicilienne BWV 1031 by J.S. Bach
The Nightingale and the Rose by Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
March on a theme by Handel ‘Lift up your heads’ by Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1922)
Pomp and Circumstance March no.4 by Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
About John Wyatt
From an early age John studied at the Centre for Young Musicians in London where his piano teachers included Ronald Lumsden and Reuben Berrill and organ with Richard Hickox at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster. He then attended the Royal Academy of Music whilst being assistant organist and then director of music at St Augustine’s Church, Kilburn (another notable Pearson building like Truro Cathedral). His professors included Douglas Hawkridge for organ and Arthur Wills for improvisation, although a great amount of his time was taken up accompanying on the piano which became a lifelong passion.
After graduating he gained the Professional Certificate for Organ Playing from the RAM, the FRCO and the PGCE from the Roehampton Institute. For many years he was director of music at Aldenham School in Elstree and Organist and Choirmaster at St James Church, Bushey in Hertfordshire. Until 2022 he was the choir director at St Mark’s Church, Newnham in Cambridge.
He now directs Harrow Philharmonic Choir and the Peterborough Chamber Choir. He also accompanies several singers and instrumentalists and plays the piano in various chamber groups including Ely Chamber Ensemble. Over the past few years, he has given organ recitals at Chester and Newcastle cathedrals, Kings Lynn Minster, St Mary’s Church, Warwick, St Georges Church, Hanover Square, London and Blenheim Palace.
He is the organist for the St Alban’s Chorale and plays occasionally for the Parish Singers at St. Alban’s Cathedral and the University of Kent chamber choir at Canterbury Cathedral. He lives in Ely with his violinist wife Mandy, and they play as a duo for recitals.
About Andrew Wyatt
Andrew Wyatt is the assistant director of music at Truro Cathedral, Director of the St Mary’s Singers and an Honorary Membership of Birmingham Conservatoire. Andrew plays the famous Father Willis organ for services and recitals and regularly directs the cathedral choirs in rehearsals and services. Educated at Aldenham School, he studied organ with Andrew Parnell and gained an Entrance Scholarship to Birmingham Conservatoire where his organ teachers were David Saint and Henry Fairs. Working concurrently with his four-year course, Andrew held the organ scholarship at St Philip’s Cathedral in Birmingham. After holding the organ scholarship at Canterbury Cathedral and being awarded the Associateship of the Royal College of Organists, Andrew became assistant organist at Hexham Abbey in September 2012 before being appointed assistant organist and later assistant director of music at Chester Cathedral in 2015.
Live-Stream
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. We rely on your support to help with the cost of maintaining the cathedral’s famous Father Willis Organ. Keeping the cathedral’s musical instruments in first-rate condition enables us to put on such recitals.
To give regularly by Direct Debit, please use the PARISH GIVING SCHEME Single donations can be made through JUST GIVING Popular donations are £5/person