Pipe Up! The Organ Podcast

David talks to our new Accordion Tutor for the Diocese of Leeds Keyboard Studies Programme, Valerie Barr. An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, not only do we hear her insights into the Accordion scene in the UK and internationally, but we also get a crash course on the accordion's distinctive features, alongside some lovely musical demonstrations.

Berlin-based organist, composer, conductor and educator Pam Hulme joins David for the final episode of the series. Following a career in school teaching, Pam moved to Germany where she is now working in church music and education. We hear how she was introduced to ‘live looping’ by teenage pupils in East London, and how rap and beat-boxing have found their way into organ performance through her Urban Organ projects.

The freelance writer, music critic and journalist, Charlotte Gardner, is today’s guest, speaking about her work which takes her all around the world. Charlotte describes her experience as a Music student at the University of Cambridge, and tells us how a job at the BBC, ultimately on Radio 4’s Today programme, eventually led to her current path as a music journalist. Along the way, Charlotte shares her insights into the rising stars of the classical music world!

Peter Wright joins David today, speaking about his current work as Interim Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral, but also his distinguished tenure as Organist and Director of Music at Southwark Cathedral in London’s South Bank. Peter describes his studies with Flor Peeters and Dame Gillian Weir, and explains what it was like to work at one of London’s most vibrant cathedrals. Along the way, we hear, too, about Mr Bean!

Today’s guest, Ann Elise Smoot, is one of the country’s foremost organ teachers. As Director of Oundle for Organists, and Chair of the Dr Martin Clarke Young Organ Scholars’ Trust, she works with young organists across the country from a wide range of backgrounds. We hear about Ann Elise’s early experiences in the UK, having come over as a recent graduate from the USA, including her work at the renowned St Giles International Organ School with Anne Marsden Thomas.

David is joined by the organist and composer, Huw Morgan, talking about Huw’s compositions for organ and electronics, and his latest album on a 4-stop organ in south Wales. They discuss the Automatronic collective, a group of like-minded composers who write and perform with electronic media, plus ways in which this fascinating compositional world can be explored for promoting the organ in the most unusual and unexpected ways! 

Featured tracks

In our final podcast of the series, Francis O’Gorman, Saintsbury Professor of Victorian Literature at the University of Edinburgh, joins David to talk about his dual life as an English academic and organist. Francis tells us about playing for Zoom services from home on his digital organ, as well as some of the challenges facing live music-making amidst the global pandemic. We also find out how English literature and wine are linked in an unexpected way!

Caius Lee, formerly Organ Scholar of Leeds Cathedral, and now Neville Burston Organ Scholar at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, joins David to speak about his university Music studies, as well as his role as an access officer to help state school pupils in their applications to the University. Caius tells us about the college ‘parent’ system, recording services for Zoom worship, and how Cambridge is adapting to life in lockdown.

Joining David today is Monday’s LIOF Live recitalist, Sean Montgomery. Following studies at Salisbury Cathedral and the Royal Academy of Music, Sean joined the music technology industry and is now European Product Director for the Roland Europe Group. We hear about Roland’s role in developing MIDI, as well as Sean’s guest appearance with a prog rock band and the CBSO in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall!

Today’s guest is Tom Leech, Director of the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, and Monday’s recitalist. Tom’s programme features works from his forthcoming recording on the Regent Records label, and we hear about how he recorded this 10 years ago during his time as Assistant Director of Music at Ripon Cathedral. Tom also tells us about his groundbreaking work taking the Schools Singing Programme online during the pandemic.