2016 Organ Inaugural Concerts and re-dedication of the Willis Pipe Organ
Willis organ pipes in casework, Great/Choir side
The Willis organ is now restored. From December 2015 - April 2016 it was used for church worship and practice purposes only during a period of testing and bedding in to ensure that it was completely ready for the Inaugural concerts and Festival events in 2016.
Major events involving the Willis Pipe organ in 2016 celebrating its completion include:
23 April 2016 7:30 pm - CELEBRATING RESTORATION! - Inaugural Choral and Organ concert with The Open University Choir
- Preparing to celebrate Willis restoration
- Celebrating organ restoration with The Open University Choir
- This concert including the full list of all the works performed can be found on Concert-diary.com
30 April 2016 6:30 pm - Pre-concert screening of the Willis organ DVD
30 April 2016 7:30 pm - ORGAN SPECTACULAR! - Inaugural Organ concert by Jonathan Kingston
- Organ Spectacular! 30 April 2016
- The full list of all the works played at this concert can be found on Concert-diary.com. It was also listed on Organrecitals.com
1 May 2016 - Blessing and re-dedication of the Willis organ by Bishop Jonathan at the 9:30 am Parish Mass
2 July 2016 7:30 pm - Inaugural Organ and Orchestral Concert with MK Sinfonia (this was the first time in its history that the Willis organ was played with an orchestra now that it is at concert pitch).
- Canteloube - Songs of the Auvergne (soloist: Lottie Greenhow)
- Poulenc - Organ Concerto in G minor
- Saint Saëns - Symphony No 3 in C, Op 78. Organ Symphony
- Organ soloist: William Thallon
- Inaugural orchestra and organ concert preparations
- Inaugural orchestra and organ concert MK Sinfonia
Other events in our 10 weeks of Restoration Celebration included short organ recitals, SMSG band with handbells and organ concerts, organ and school performances:
19 May 2016 12:30 - Third Thursday at Twelve Thirty - The Orphean Singers and a school choir sang with Jacob Collins at the Willis organ
29 May 2016 3:00 pm - Family Organ Recital with Jem Lowther - followed by tea and cake
8 June 2016 5:00 pm - Tea time with SMSG Church band - Willis organ played with the band for 'Highland Cathedral'
12 June 2016 3:00 pm - Happy 90th Birthday to the Queen - SMSG band and Willis organ concert with cream teas. 'Highland Cathedral' for band and organ was played again.
16 June 2016 12:30 pm - Third Thursday at Twelve Thirty - Local primary schools performed with the Willis organ
MfA Willis Pipe Restoration Celebration press release 24.02.2016
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