James Parsons invites students, friends and organ enthusiasts for an inspirational organ day at St Mary’s and All Saints’ in Fotheringhay. It is an opportunity to unlock the secrets of the organ but also to unlock your organ playing skills.
During this fun and exciting day full of organ music you will:
- Play to each other in classes
- Share new repertoire that you’ve been learning during lockdown or wish to tackle
- Re-experience the pleasure of making music with pipe organs
- Play other excellent organs in the area
- Socialise and reconnect with other organists
Organ Inspiration Day with James Parsons
Address: St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, Fotheringhay, PE8 5HZ
Date & Time: SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2020 (10am to 5pm)
Cost: suggested donation for the day, on the day – £25 per student
Booking and More information: James Parsons website – https://jamesparsons.org/
20 Anniversary Recital on the Fotheringhay Organ
As that was not enough, there is the opportunity to make a weekend of it as James will be giving the 20th Anniversary recital the following day. There are several nice local B&B’s and pubs that should be eager to welcome guests in October.
James will be playing on the lovely Woodstock pipe organ at Fotheringhay which I wrote about in my blog about a year ago (Woodstock Organ at Fotheringhay Church)
Address: St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, Fotheringhay, PE8 5HZ
Date & Time: SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2020 (3pm)
About James Parsons the Organist
James Parsons, for many years a familiar face in music and organ education, is one of the organ’s most articulate advocates.
Recently Head of Student Development at the Royal College of Organists, he is recognised as a distinguished international concert organist, and as one of the UK’s foremost organ teachers.
As Organist, then Director of Music, at Oundle School, he was for twenty-five years Founder-Director of Oundle for Organists, hosted by Oundle International Festival (which he launched in 1985). James has enjoyed the privilege of opening doors for hundreds of young organists through Oundle’s and RCO’s inspirational courses.
James has been Organist of St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, Fotheringhay, for over fifteen years.
Find out more about James Parsons on his website.
About St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church, Fotheringhay and the Pipe Organs
Fotheringhay is a tiny village in Northamptonshire over which presides the iconic lantern tower of St Mary and All Saints Parish Church— “float[ing] on its hill above the River Nene, a galleon of Perpendicular on a sea of corn” (Simon Jenkins)
The present Church is all that remains of a mediaeval College of Priests founded by King Edward III.
Interestingly enough, I visited Fotheringhay Church back in 2019, and wrote about the church and the two pipe organs currently residing there.
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.
