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GSMF in association with Guildford Institute
Organ Series 2010
It has been impossible to include organ music at the customary venues for GSMF events. Neither the Electric Theatre nor the Guildhall can cope with anything other than a small electronic organ as part of an accompanying group of instruments. However, organ compositions have a very important part in our everyday musical life, as do the myriad of instruments on which they are played.
Guildford and its surroundings have many varied organs ranging from the
Cathedral instrument, through the large organs in our town churches and smaller classical ones in other town and village churches. Under the joint banner of GSMF with the Guildford Institute and created by local organist Graham Thorp, the Festival is presenting its first programme focusing on the classical organ. It is hoped that in future Festivals other areas of the vast range of organ music will be included.
Graham Thorp won an organ scholarship to Cambridge at the age of 16 and was one of the youngest organists at that time to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. His association with Guildford began when he became Director of Music at Guildford High School, a post he held for 23 years. He was responsible for developing the school’s reputation for excellence, diversity, inclusiveness and a forward-looking approach to music education. Now retired from full-time teaching he is returning to organ playing. He has reviewed the fine instruments in the area and intends to develop a series of illustrated concerts on the theme of ‘The Classical Organs of Guildford’.
This mini-series is a welcome extension of the scope of GSMF into a new genre as the Festival strives to include performances from all musical activity in Guildford.
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