A day when BIOS, the IAO and RCO combine to host a celebration of the organ in Birmingham. Join the UK’s three leading organ organisations with Birmingham Organists’ Association for the day in a programme of talks, demonstrations and hear the superb J W Walker organ of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. A highlight of the day will be the recital at Birmingham Town Hall given by City of Birmingham Organist, Thomas Trotter, in a programme especially designed to celebrate Birmingham’s rich organ heritage, 180 years after the William Hill organ was inaugurated in 1834.
09.45am Arrivals at St Chad’s Metropolitan Cathedral, St Chad’s Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU
Registration and morning coffee in the Grimshaw Room
10.15 BIOS, RCO and IAO presentations
10.45 Break and opportunity to view displays of organ archives;
merchandise available.
11.00 The Organs and Music of Birmingham Town Hall; Andrew McCrea, Director of Academic Development, RCO, and David Knight, BIOS explore the rich organ heritage of 180 years of the organ in Birmingham Town Hall.
11.50 Lunch followed by transport by bus to:
1.00pm Birmingham Town Hall
Recital by Thomas Trotter, City of Birmingham Organist
Programme to include Mendelssohn, Elgar and Thalben-Ball and the Birmingham Premiere of a Feeney Trust Commission by Jonathan Dove.
2.15 Buses return to St Chad’s Cathedral
3.00 Dr Jim Berrow asks “Our Digital Future?” The pipe organ in the digital age
3.40 Afternoon tea. Regent Records in attendance; opportunity for purchases and viewing of displays and archive material
4.10 Choral High Mass in St Chad’s Cathedral, Professor David Saint, Organist and Director of Music. Mass will be preceded by Voluntaries played by students from the Organ Department of Birmingham Conservatoire
5.30 aprox Departure