John Keys was brought up and educated in Chester. On completion of his schooling, he was assistant organist at Chester Cathedral for 3 years, before becoming an organ scholar at New College, Oxford. There he was taught by Gillian Weir and Nicholas Danby. After graduating, he studied for 3 years at Geneva Conservatoire with Lionel Rogg, and won the 1er Prix de Virtuosité and the Prix Barblan. He was also Organist of the Eglise St Jean and then Holy Trinity Church. Having been appointed Director of Music at St. Mary’s Church, Nottingham, in 1984, in the same year he won First Prize at the 4th Manchester International Organ Competition. He is also Nottingham University organist and is pictured here near the console of the ‘Nottingham Albert Hall’ Binns organ.
We are sponsoring this recital and proceeds will go towards the Nottingham City Parish and the Binns Organ Trust. The recital will be played on our Regent 356 instrument installed last year to supplement the St Mary’s neo classical pipe organ. Our instrument is in the picture to the right.
St Mary’s is a magnificent city church as you see from this picture of the vast interior. I hope you will not mind me saying that our instrument makes a mighty fine sound in this huge space.
John’s programme includes:-
J.S. Bach Sinfonia to Cantata 29.
George Shearing Amazing Grace! (from Sacred Sounds)
Mendelssohn Sonata Op.65, No.6
Buxtehude Vater unser
J.S. Bach Vater unser (Orgelbüchlein)
Georg Böhm Vater unser
César Franck Chorale No.3
Samuel Barber arr.William Strickland Adagio for Strings
Henri Mulet Carillon-Sortie.
I have had a passion for church organs since the tender age of 12. I own and run Viscount Organs with a close attention to the detail that musicians appreciate; and a clear understanding of the benefits of digital technology and keeping to the traditional and emotional elements of organ playing.
