Selby Organ CDs
Michael Overbury
Beautiful Bach from Selby Abbey
Michael Overbury gained an Organ Scholarship to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and after graduating was an assisting organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, Assistant Organist at New College, Oxford, a deputy organist and choir master at the Cathedral and Abbey Church at St Alban’s, Director of Music at Eagle House Preparatory School, and Master of the Song School at Newark, Nottinghamshire.
After winning First Prize in the 1982 Manchester International Organ Competition, he appeared twice as soloist at the Royal Festival Hall.
John Scott Whiteley
John Scott Whiteley
at Selby Abbey
John Scott Whiteley is Organist Emeritus of York Minster, having worked at the cathedral from 1975 until 2010. During the past fifteen years he has become well-known for his performances on BBC2 and BBC4 of the complete organ music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
John now has twenty-eight solo CD recordings to his credit, and a further twenty-two as accompanist.
This CD features pieces by Liszt, Reubke, Thiele, Raff, Brahms & Walczynski.
Aleksandr Nisse
The Ascension at Selby Abbey
Aleksandr Nisse is of Russian, French and German background and received his early training as an organist in Hamburg. Aleksandr was organ scholar at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. Since September 2011 he has been organist of St. Andrew’s Church, Westland Row, Dublin, and music teacher at Terenure College. Recitals to date have taken him to Germany, France, Switzerland and Hungary.
This CD features pieces by Charles Tournemire, Maurice Duruflé, Olivier Messiaen, Danielle Salvignol-Nisse and Franz Liszt.
Selby Abbey Hill Organ CDs
Built in 1909 by William Hill & Son, the organ of Selby Abbey is one of the finest romantic instruments in Britain and has been fully restored. The Hill Organ is considered a magnificent example by one of the most highly-respected organ builders. The superb solid oak organ case was designed by John Oldred Scott, son of the celebrated George Gilbert Scott.
These high-quality, digital recordings made live at Selby Abbey showcase the performances of outstanding organists. Funds raised from the sale of these CDs will be used to assist the work of the Selby Abbey Trust.
Nicolas Kynaston
A Tribute to
Nicolas Kynaston
Nicolas Kynaston was born in Devon to a musical family and at the age of 15 went to Italy to study with Fernando Germani. On returning to England he continued his studies with Ralph Downes. He was appointed Organist of Westminster Cathedral at the age of 19, soon afterwards giving the first of many recitals at London's Royal Festival Hall.
Nicolas Kynaston was an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and a past president of the Incorporated Association of Organists. He was a prolific performer and recorder of organ music.
He taught regularly at Oxford and Cambridge for many years and also tutored many of the 2021 Selby Abbey soloists.
This Sigfrid Karg-Elert has never previously been released and all rights have been given by Nicolas and Schotts to support the Selby Abbey Trust.
Fernando Germani
Fernando Germani at Selby Abbey
Digitally remastered CD from the original 1960s LP recordings by the Italian Virtuoso, Fernando Germani, that made the Hill organ of Selby Abbey world famous.
Germani had been the Pope's organist at St Peter's in Rome and was considered one of the outstanding organists of all time. He played piano and violin in public at four years old. At age eight he started taking lessons in composition from Resphigi who encouraged Germani in playing the organ.
Fernando Germani Plays the famous Toccata from the Symphony Number 5 by Charles Marie Widor on the Grand Organ of Selby Abbey.
Franz Hauk
Franz Hauk plays Franz Liszt & Max Reger
German choral conductor and organist Franz Hauk was raised in Neuburg an der Donau. He attended the Munich College of Music & Theatre focussing on organ and piano. He also studied in Salzburg.
His thesis on church music in 19th century Munich In 1988 led to his doctorate award. Moving to Ingolstadt, he has served as organist and choir director at the Liebfrauenmünster. He has given recitals in the United States and Europe.
Since 2002 he has taught church music and historical performance practices at the Munich College of Music and Theatre. in 2003 he founded the Simon Mayr Choir.
Ashley Grote
Ashley Grote Plays Johann Sebastian Bach
Ashley Grote is Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral and a fellow of the Royal College of Organists.
Grote grew up in Colchester and attended Eld Lane Baptist Church where he sang in the choir and first played the organ. He joined the Choir of King's College, Cambridge at the age of eight and returned to King's in October 2001 as an organ scholar.
He won first prize in the 1999 Royal College of Organists Young Performers' Festival. In 2000 he was the first organist ever to win a place in the keyboard final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition.
Ashley Grote was also Assistant Organist at Westminster Abbey, and Assistant Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral.
Robert Clark
Bach at Naumburg played by Robert Clark
"The 32ft Pedal Reed makes my music thunder so." J.S. Bach
Robert Clark (1931-2017) was professor of organ at Arizona State University from 1981 to 1998 and known as a Bach specialist, recitalist and teacher.
From 1964 to 1981, he was professor of organ at the University of Michigan then at Arizona State University he played a decisive role in expanding the organ program. He taught many outstanding students throughout his career and his crowning achievement at ASU was the dedication of the Fritts & Co. organ in 1992.
He recorded 7 CDs over the course of his career, including this double album of JS Bach at Naumburg's Wenzelkirche's newly restored organ.
The recording has been donated to the Selby Abbey Trust by the estate of the late Dr Homer Edwards who funded this iconic recording.
Includes 32 page booklet.
Eleni Keventsidou
Plays Max Reger
Eleni was born in Athens and started playing the piano at the age of 8 at the Athens National Conservatory, where she graduated in 1995 with a unanimous First Prize.
In 1998 she was awarded a three-year scholarship by the ‘Friends of Music Society’ in order to study the organ with Nicolas Kynaston at the Athens Concert Hall.
Eleni has performed in major festivals in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Finland, Poland, USA.
Currently she teaches piano and organ at Rugby School. She was appointed Professor of Organ at the London Performing Academy of Music in 2020.
Alessandro Licata
At Selby Abbey
Born in Rome in 1952, Alessandro studied organ and composition for organ with Fernando Germani at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1974.
He was awarded first prize at the Masterplayers International Music Competition, Orvieto in 1977.
His début was as the organist of the Teatromusica Ensemble at International Festivals of Contemporary Music in Warsaw (1975), Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome (1977).
Concerts followed in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Canada, China, Sweden and Jordan.
He has taught organ and composition for organ at the Conservatories of Sassari, L'Aquila and at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome.
Alessandro Licata
Plays Bach at Selby
Born in Rome in 1952, Alessandro studied organ and composition for organ with Fernando Germani at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1974.
He was awarded first prize at the Masterplayers International Music Competition, Orvieto in 1977.
His début was as the organist of the Teatromusica Ensemble at International Festivals of Contemporary Music in Warsaw (1975), Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome (1977).
Concerts followed in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Canada, China, Sweden and Jordan.
He has taught organ and composition for organ at the Conservatories of Sassari, L'Aquila and at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome.
Geoffrey Coffin
At Selby Abbey
Geoffrey Coffin was organ scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1965-68 and studied with Sir David Willcocks.
He moved to York in 1971 on being appointed assistant organist to Francis Jackson at York Minster. While serving in this capacity Geoffrey also developed an interest in organ building and worked for a major English firm, both in Britain and, later abroad.
He established Principal Pipe Organs in York in 1983 and he and his staff of five have built a number of new organs and undertaken a huge variety of restoration work.
© Selby Abbey Trust / Design and Build Graphic Design Partnership