Organ Recitals
Join us to enjoy the sparkling sound of one of the UK’s finest organs, bathed in the glorious architecture and acoustic of the Baroque chapel.
Each Wednesday at 1.10pm during term time we host an informal lunchtime recital which ends before 2pm.
Admission is free with a retiring collection.
For disabled access please speak to the Porters Lodge (01865 279120).
If you have any further enquiries please ring the choir office on 01865 289177 or email choir@queens.ox.ac.uk
Trinity Term 2025
Wednesday 30 April - James Johnstone - Concert Organist
Wednesday 7 May - James Perkins - Berkhamstead School (UNFORTUNATELY THIS RECITAL HAS BEEN CANCELLED).
Wednesday 14 May - Susanne Rohn - Mainz Musikhochschule
Wednesday 21 May - Joshua Simoes - Chapel Royal, Hampton Court
Wednesday 28 May - David Enlow - New York
Wednesday 4 June - Edward Bence - Oriel College
Wednesday 11 June - Tim Stewart - Oundle for Organists award winner
Wednesday 18 June - Paul Walton - Bristol Cathedral and Bristol University
30 April - James Johnstone
Concert Organist
Georg Böhm (1661-1733)
Prelude, Fugue & Postlude
Vater unser im Himmelreich
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr BWV 711
Jesu, meine Freude BWV 713
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott BWV 720
Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 695
Valet will ich dir geben BWV 736
James Johnstone studied in London and The Hague with Jill Severs and Ton Koopman respectively. He has forged a career as a recitalist, continuo player and teacher.
As a recitalist he has performed throughout Europe as well as Israel, Colombia, Ecuador and the United States. Recitals in Europe include the important historical organs of Freiberg, Roskilde, Grauhof, Weingarten, Ottobeuren, Groningen, Haarlem, Lerma and Basel.
In 2016 he undertook a series of critically acclaimed Bach recordings for Metronome Recordings: Clavierübung Part III (1739 Wagner organ, Trondheim), Fantasias and Fugues (Raphaelis organ, Roskilde) which received a Diapason d’Or, the 18 Chorales and Canonic Variations (Treutmann organ, Grauhof). The complete organ works of François Couperin and d’Anglebert (Tribuot, Seurre) was released in 2020. Current new releases include Bach’s Art of Fugue on harpsichord, the six violin and obbligato harpsichord sonatas with Rodolfo Richter and Volume 4 of the Bach series (Bader organ, Zutphen).
James teaches early keyboards at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the Royal Academy of Music London.
Please note that this recital will not be live-streamed.
7 May - James Perkins
Unfortunately, this recital has been CANCELLED.
14 May - Susanne Rohn
Mainz Musikhochschule
Christian Erbach (ca. 1573–1635)
Ave maris stella (4 Versus)
Jan Pieterszoon Sweenlinck (1562-1621)
Ricercare in a
Franz Tunder (1614-1667)
In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata C-Dur (BWV 566)
Guy Bovet (*1942)
from Tangos ecclesiasticos:
El tango del gato (The Cat Tango)
El tango de los tangos (The Tango of Tangos)
Prof. Susanne Rohn was born in Waldshut (South Germany). After the maturity examination (Abitur) she studied „church music“ (Kirchenmusik) at the Conservatory of Freiburg (Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg im Breisgau), organ at the Lyon National Conservatory and harpsichord at the Conservatory of Toulouse. In 1997, after three years of further studies in Basilea/Switzerland with Guy Bovet, she obtained her concert diploma in organ and in the same year her concert diploma in conducting at the Freiburg Musikhochschule (both with first prizes).
Her professional career began in that same year, when she was elected church musician of the „Redeemer Church“ (Erlöserkirche) in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt. This beautiful building with a rich and old musical tradition and two organs (Sauer 1908, IV/62 and Woehl 1991, II/31) opens many possibilities for using ones artistic qualities in the field of organ playing as well as conducting. Not necessary however to say that Susanne Rohn plays organ concerts not only in Bad Homburg. In the field of conducting, she has performed until now nearly all important standard oratoria works as well as many not-mainstream or contemporan pieces and orchestral works. In June 1913 she conducted three performances of Richard Wagners opera “Parsifal”.
Susanne Rohn participated in master classes and international organ competitions. She won the first prize in the International Organ Competition of Toulouse in 1991, she was awarded the ZONTA musical prize at the German Music Competition in 1993 for the best performance of a female participant in all possible categories. In 1994 she got the 3rd prize in the Calgary International Organ Competition, and in 1995 she was a finalist in the Organ Competition of the City of Paris.
As a singer she works in several professional chamber choirs and groups of ancient music and also takes over smaller tasks as an alto soloist. From 1997 to 1998 she was a teacher for conducting at the Freiburg Musikhochschule. From 2001 to 2006 she was teaching organ at the University of Mainz. Between 2006 and 2009 she was a conducting professor at the Robert-Schumann-Musikhochschule Düsseldorf and since 2011 she leads a conducting class at the University of Mainz. There are several CD recordings with Susanne Rohn as an organist and as a conductor.
21 May - Joshua Simoes
Chapel Royal, Hampton Court
William Byrd (c. 1540-1623)
Fantasia in d
John Bull (1562-1628)
Salve Regina
Anon. Dutch (from the Camphuysen manuscript)
Daphne
Anthoni van Noordt (c. 1619–1675)
Psalm 24
Francisco Correa de Arauxo (1584–1654)
Tiento de tiple de séptimo toño
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude and Fugue in A minor BWV 543
Joshua Simões is Organist of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, Hampton Court where he is the principal Organist for the Chapel’s round of services, for the Royal Household, the Order of the Companions of Honour and concerts, broadcasts and recordings. Joshua completed his master's and undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of David Titterington and Bine Bryndorf, where he was awarded several major prizes and awards. A previous prize winner at the Northern Ireland International Organ competition, Joshua made a critically acclaimed CD with the choir of King’s College London and was praised by Gramophone - “Joshua played superbly with virtuoso use of the organ”. He has collaborated with Delphian and Resonus Record Labels and recent concert appearances has taken Joshua to Germany and the UK.
28 May - David Enlow
new york
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
from Sonata No. 1 in F
Allegro Moderato e Serioso
Adagio
Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788)
Organ Sonata in B-flat
Allegro
Andante
Allegretto
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562 - 1621)
Variations on Mein junges Leben hat ein End’
J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542
David Enlow is a “commanding” organist (The New Yorker), hailed for his “performances full of color, passion, invention, and power” (The American Record Guide). As a conductor, “Mr. Enlow drew fresh and lively performances from the players…” (The New York Times).
David was appointed Music Director of Park Avenue Synagogue in 2020, continuing as Organist and Choir Master at the Church of the Resurrection, where he has been since 2001, and as Assistant Conductor and repetiteur to the Clarion Choir, and organist of the Clarion Music Society. David has appeared in most all of New York’s major concert halls and churches, and in cathedrals and halls around Europe.
David’s solo recordings on the Pro Organo label include Pater Seraphicus, the complete major organ works of César Franck; Piano à l’Orgue, an album of piano transcriptions; and Bach on Park Avenue, recorded on the Mander organ at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York. As a concerto soloist, David has appeared with orchestras in works of Barber, Poulenc, Haydn, Handel, Respighi, Bach, Rheinberger, and Saint-Saens.
David has taught church music, improvisation, and organ repertoire classes for local, regional, and national events of the American Guild of Organists, and at the Juilliard School, from which he received two degrees.
4 June - Edward Bence
Oriel College, Oxford
Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 – 1788)
Sonata in Bb major, Wq. 70/2
Allegro
Arioso
Allegro
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Sonata IV in Bb major, Op. 65/4
Allegro con brio
Andante religioso
Allegretto
Allegro maestoso e vivace
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548
Edward Bence is a 21-year-old organist and pianist. He is currently studying Mathematics at Oxford, while holding Oriel College’s Organ Scholarship.
Having been music scholar at King Edward VI School, Southampton, Edward was awarded a music scholarship when he moved to Winchester College for sixth form. During his time there, Edward became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists while studying under George Castle and completed two diplomas on the piano under the tuition of Nick Salwey. He also gave a joint recital of Bach and Buxtehude with fellow student Christopher Brain at Queen’s in April 2022. Between school and university, Edward was Organ Scholar at Romsey Abbey and played Saint-Saëns’ G minor Piano Concerto with Southampton Youth Orchestra. He continues to accompany on both piano and organ in Hampshire.
Although studying Maths, Edward remains fully immersed in the Oxford music scene. Oriel’s Organ Scholarship involves conducting and playing for the three weekly services in Oriel’s Chapel and he plays regularly in other churches and chapels in Oxford. Edward is also particularly active in the Oxford chamber music scene on the piano, both as a soloist and as an accompanist, with recital venues including New, Oriel, Magdalen, Worcester and Jesus Colleges. Other recent recitals have included Bristol Cathedral, Romsey Abbey and Gosport Holy Trinity and his next Oxford organ recital will be at Magdalen in November.
11 June - Tim Stewart
Oundle for Organists award winner
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue BWV 564
Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Ciacona in E minor Bux
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Fugue in A flat Minor
Felix Mendelsohn (1809-1847)
Sonata No.1
Timothy is currently in his second year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire after having been awarded the DMC McDonald Foundation Scholarship Award. He is also Organ Scholar at Birmingham Cathedral (St Philips).
Timothy has enjoyed recent competition success after being awarded first prize at the IAO-RCO organ playing competition, with the final taking place at York Minster (2024) the London Organ Competition held in St Clement Danes church, London (2023), the Leonard Gibbons Organ Competition which was held at St Chads Cathedral, Birmingham (2024).
He is active as a recitalist, having given solo recitals at numerous prestigious venues such as, Westminster Abbey, Coventry Cathedral, Clare College, Cambridge and many other cathedrals and churches around the country.
18 June - Paul Walton
Bristol Cathedral and Bristol University
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Fantasia and Fugue in C minor (BWV 537)
Wo soll ich fliehen hin (BWV 646)
Trio Sonata No.1 in E flat major (BWV 525)
[Allegro moderato]
Adagio
Allegro
Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein (BWV 668)
Toccata in E major (BWV 566)
Paul Walton began his musical career as a chorister at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare’s church), and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, with Margaret Philips, Matthew Owens and Kevin Bowyer.
Since September 2001, Paul has been Assistant Organist of Bristol Cathedral. As well as accompanying and assisting in the training of the Cathedral Choir, he directs the Cathedral Consort. From 2001 to 2024 (when the Cathedral organ was refurbished), he gave 96 recitals at the Cathedral and other venues throughout Bristol without repeating a piece. Other solo recital venues have included St. Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London (sponsored by the Keyboard Charitable Trust), cathedrals including St. Paul’s, Liverpool, Coventry and Hereford, Westminster Abbey, Tewkesbury Abbey, Rochdale Town Hall, Parr Hall, Warrington, and the Marktkirche, Hannover. He has been accompanist for Bristol Cathedral Choir’s tours to France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the USA. In summer 2019, he spent two months as Acting Master of the Choristers during Mark Lee’s sabbatical.
As well as performing the standard organ repertoire, Paul is a keen advocate of both rare and new music, and his four CD recordings on the Regent label include 20 first recordings of music by David Bednall, David Briggs, Paul Bryan, Paul Fisher, Nicolas Kingman, John Pickard, Philip Wilby and Elizabeth Winters, as well as the almost forgotten organist of Notre Dame, Léonce de Saint-Martin. These recordings have received widespread critical acclaim, including an Editor’s Choice in Organists’ Review, a Star Review in Choir & Organ, and two 4-star ratings in BBC Music Magazine. Paul has been described as ‘thoroughly musical and technically assured’, ‘committed performer’ and (his personal favourite) ‘young’.
Paul is also active as a composer and arranger. His recent work includes an organ piece in the Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists series, and a book of descants to 125 hymn tunes, Descants are for Life (not just for Christmas), released last year by Quires and Places.
Projects in Bristol in 2025 have included a cycle of the complete organ symphonies of Louis Vierne, and an ongoing series of the Bach trio sonatas. More information can be found at paul-walton.com
