Triumph of St Edmund's Organists

Date: Wednesday 27 July 2011

Today, St Edmund's Organ Scholar elect, George Inscoe, gave a joint organ recital at Our Lady and the English Martyrs RC church in Cambridge. This opportunity was awarded as a prize at the last year's Oundle Festival International Organ Course. Today's varied recital made full use of an organ which offers plenty of different colours, from the quiet reflective nature of Bach's "Erbarm dich, mein Gott" and Whitlock's "Fidelis", to the fireworks of the Boellman and Mushel Toccatas. The small but enthusiastic audience showed their appreciation with rapturous applause and broad smiles.

At this year's course, Fifth Form Music Scholar Guy Steed was awarded the same award, whilst George Inscoe went on the earn the extremely prestigious solo recital at Queen's College, Oxford, an accolade only available to organists aged 16 and over; George has been 16 for ten days!

The Oundle Festival International Organ Courses are probably the most well-known and highly regarded summer schools for young organists. Canterbury Cathedral Organist Dr David Flood said "To win such a prestigious recital is a great achievement at any student level, but remarkable for someone of George’s age. We are very proud of his success and delighted with all that he is achieving. I am also delighted that Guy Steed has won a recital award, at an even younger age!"

In addition to regular playing for school services, both pupils hold positions outside school as organists. George is the Organ Scholar at St. Mary's Church, Dover, whilst Guy will begin in a role of Assistant Organist for Ashford parish church this autumn. This succession of talented ex-chorister organists is a great triumph.

George Inscoe