Jonathan Kingston
2018 Willis Pipe Organ Festival
The 2018 festival will take place from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 September, as part of the national Heritage Open Days weekend.
We’ll be repeating the most successful elements of our last two Festivals again this year. If you’ve been before you’ll know how much fun these are … and if not, save the dates now and join us for sure this year! There’ll be a silent movie with Donald MacKenzie on Saturday 8 September; and a free ‘Hands On’ open house session, Tour of the Organ and Requests Concert by Jonathan Kingston on the afternoon of Sunday 9 September. More details will be announced soon.
Musical Director: Jonathan Kingston
2017 Willis Pipe Organ Festival
We have 6 free daytime events and 2 evening concerts:
- Friday night Festival Gala recital by Dr Simon Lindley (Leeds City Organist). Advance booking via the Festival Gala online booking
- 'Sherlock Jr' - Silent Movie with organ accompaniment by Donald MacKenzie on Saturday night. Sherlock Jr online booking
Free daytime events include:
- a free lunchtime organ concert on Friday by Jacob Collins at 12:30 pm
- a free Heritage photo exhibition on Friday and Saturday at 10:00 am - 12:30 pm (with video screening on Saturday at 12 noon)
- Teddy Bears' Picnic with organ on Saturday afternoon (places limited to 60, advance booking preferred). Teddy Bears' Picnic online booking
- Hands on our Willis! on Sunday afternoon
- Get to know our Willis! (places limited to 30, advance booking) on Sunday afternoon. Get to know our Willis! online booking
- An afternoon 'audience requests' organ concert by Jonathan Kingston. Book your request in advance via the website contact form or email your request to events@musicforallsmsg.org of your favourite piece for Jonathan to play.
Online booking opened on 24 June 2017 via the Online Box Office
Seating is limited for some events so book early to avoid disappointment.
Stony Stratford Pipe Organ Festival 2017 A4 flyer
2016 Willis Pipe Organ Festival
The 2016 Willis Pipe Organ Festival ran from Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 September, as part of the national Heritage Open Days weekend.
Musical Director: Jonathan Kingston
All events except ‘Family Jam’ were at St Mary and St Giles Church, Church St, Stony Stratford, MK11 1BD. ‘Family Jam’ was at St Mary and St Giles School.
Three special evening events
Donald McKenzie
Three very special evening events formed the centre piece of the Festival and demonstrated the versatility and grandeur of our newly restored Willis Pipe Organ:
Friday Night Organ Pops introduced and played by Jonathan Kingston
Popular organ classics with something for everyone! 9 September 7:30 pm
Saturday Night Silent Movie ‘Safety Last!’ accompanied by Donald MacKenzie. 10 September 7:30 pm
International virtuoso concert organist Donald MacKenzie improvised a live soundtrack to Harold Lloyd’s classic 1923 film Safety Last! giving you an authentic Jazz Age experience of this iconic romantic comedy.
This event was promoted by Independent Cinema Milton Keynes
Roger Sayer
Sunday Night Masterworks Recital by Roger Sayer
A blaze of sound filled St Mary and St Giles Church in a recital of masterworks by J S Bach, Jongen, William Lloyd Webber, Alain, Duruflé and Vierne. 11 September 7:30 pm
Five free daytime events – fun for all ages
Jacob Collins
Five free daytime events are designed to help music lovers of all ages to find out more about our wonderful pipe organ.
Friday lunchtime Opening Recital with Jacob Collins
Jacob got the Festival off to a rousing start with an introduced programme of attractive and well known music for organ.
9 September 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Friday afternoon workshop Beginner’s Guide to the Organ for grade 4+ keyboard players who sat at the console and played not just on one keyboard but three keyboards and a full set of foot pedals.
9 September 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
Teddy Bears' Picnic with the Willis Organ
Saturday morning workshop Family Jam with pipes and percussion for preschoolers.
10 September 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Saturday afternoon family concert Teddy Bears’ Picnic – an entertaining introduction to the pipe organ for 4-11 year olds.
10 September 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Sunday morning talk with excerpts on the organ Get to know our Willis! by Jonathan Kingston.
11 September 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Drop in to find out more about the organ and church
Drop in and find out more about the newly restored Willis pipe organ in the lovely grade 2* listed church of St Mary and St Giles at the heart of Stony Stratford.
Thursday (11:00 am - 5:00 pm) and Friday (9:00 am - 12.30 pm) the Church Hall was open for a History & Photo Exhibition. A 20 minute video of the organ history and restoration was shown at 11.30 each day. See History & Photo Exibition part 1 and History & Photo Exhibition part 2
Sunday morning service (9:30 am) was open to all and included organ music. The Parish Singers sang the psalm and an anthem with the organ (A New Commandment composed by David Barton).
Sunday afternoon (12:30 pm - 3:30 pm) our organ guides were available for Hands On Our Willis! – your chance to try the organ and find out more about it.
Refreshments were available at all events. All funds raised went towards the maintenance and restoration of the organ.
We enjoyed welcoming you (more than 800 people) during the Willis Pipe Organ Festival!
Music for All @ SMSG Events Team
For all queries, contact us at: events@musicforallsmsg.org
For high resolution photos of our Organ Festival promotion photos please visit the album Willis Pipe Organ Festival on Flickr.
Join our monthly events notification emailing list by filling in the Contact form or send an email to events@musicforallsmsg.org
Restored Willis organ with new casework and golden pipes
