Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast

Welcome to Secrets of Organ Playing Podcast #82! http://www.organduo.lt/podcast Today's guest is Peter Holder who is Sub-Organist of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. He was appointed at the age of 23 following two years as Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey. His responsibilities at both institutions have involved playing at numerous events of national importance, including the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and accompanying the world famous choirs. He completed both undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music whilst studying with David Titterington. During his studentship, he was awarded numerous scholarships and prizes, most notably HRH Princess Alice the Duchess of Gloucester’s Prize for exemplary studentship at Graduation in 2013. He was appointed the Pidem Organ Fellow in 2014 and to the Junior Royal Academy of Music where he is now an organ tutor. He continues his repertoire studies with David Titterington, Jon Laukvik and Patrick Russill, and improvisation with Thierry Escaich. Peter Holder has previously held posts at St Albans Cathedral, Southwell Minster and The Royal Hospital Chelsea. He has broadcast for BBC radio and television, and performed in the 2012 BBC Proms with the combined Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music and Juilliard School, conducted by John Adams. As a continuo player, he has performed with St James’s Baroque at the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music’s annual concert at Westminster Abbey. Recent performances include venues such as the Royal Albert Hall; Royal Festival Hall; Reading Town Hall; St John’s Smith Square; Westminster Abbey; the Cathedrals of Gloucester, St Paul’s, and Westminster; Cambridge Summer Music Festival; John Hill Memorial Series at St Lawrence Jewry; Lichfield Festival; and St Albans International Organ Festival. His first solo recording is scheduled for release later this year recorded on the magnificent 1797 Holzhey organ of Neresheim Abbey, featuring the works of members of the Bach family, WA Mozart and Christian Heinrich Rinck. Peter’s solo repertoire is broad and eclectic, and includes transcriptions of celebrated orchestral scores (see link). His concerto repertoire includes works by Handel, Lou Harrison and Poulenc and his orchestral repertoire includes the works of composers such as Duruflé, Elgar, Resphigi, Saint-Säens (Symphony No 3) and Walton. He is also a keen player of both the piano and harmonium, and has performed the prominent roles in Fanshawe African Sanctus and Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle on these respective instruments. In this conversation Peter talks about what does it take to play such magnificent instruments at one of the most important cathedrals in the world and what is the musical life behind it. ​Enjoy and share your comments below. ​ And don't forget to help spread the word about the SOP Podcast by sharing it with your organist friends. Thanks for caring. Relevant links: http://www.peterholdermusic.co.uk/ https://www.stpauls.co.uk/​