Organ Symposium

Southbank Centre collaborates with the British Institute of Organ Studies and the Royal College of Organists to present this in-depth symposium.

We examine the design, craftmanship and music which have made Royal Festival Hall's organ such a special feature of musical life since 1954.

The symposium brings together an international cast of performers and experts, including Dame Gillian Weir and Professor Lionel Rogg, as well as a recital by Margaret Phillips.

9.30am – 10.15am
Arrival, registration and coffee.

10.15am – 10.30am
Welcome and introduction by Dr William McVicker (Southbank Centre's organ curator) and Dr Alan Thurlow (British Institute of Organ Studies chairman), followed by a short organ performance by Professor Lionel Rogg.

10.30am – 11am
Mark Venning (chairman of Harrison & Harrison Ltd.) and Andrew Scott (head voicer at Harrison & Harrison Ltd.) give an overview of the recent restoration work to the Royal Festival Hall organ. There will be an opportunity to see inside the instrument using a roving camera.

11am – 11.30am
Formerly an architect to English Heritage and organ advisor to the Diocese of Southwark, Barrie Clark, gives a talk on the design and character of the Royal Festival Hall organ. The former British Institute of Organ Studies heritage adviser reflects on the original appearance of the organ in 1954 and explores its modifications as the recent redesign of the hall evolved.

11.30am – 12.15pm
American organ consultant, Jonathan Ambrosino, leads a talk on G. Donald Harrison, the 'American Classic' organ, and its influence on the Royal Festival Hall organ.

12.15pm – 12.45pm
David Wickens explores the Royal Festival Hall pipe scales, using a roving camera to view inside the organ.

12.45pm – 1.15pm
'Fifty Performances at Southbank Centre': Dame Gillian Weir in conversation with Dr William McVicker.

1.15pm – 2.15pm
Lunch will not be provided but please feel free to bring your own lunch or make use of our many cafe's and restaurants across the site.

2.15pm – 2.45pm
The Royal Festival Hall organ has been a source of inspiration for many composers.

Andrew McCrea discusses the organ and the repertoire it has inspired alongside extracts performed by Southbank Centre's Festival organ scholar, Weston Jennings.

2.45pm – 3.15pm
Andrew McCrea and Professor Lionel Rogg present a talk on the importance of the Royal Festival Hall Organ for artists from abroad.

3.15pm – 4.15pm
Organ performance practice has evolved throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Dr William McVicker hosts a panel discussion on historical and contemporary performance practice, featuring Dame Gillian Weir, Professor Lionel Rogg, Andrew McCrea and Dr Alan Thurlow.

There will be an opportunity to put your questions to the panel in the last 15 minutes of this discussion.

4.15pm – 4.45pm
Tea break

4.45pm – 5.45pm
Margaret Phillips performs an organ recital:

Liszt: Fantasia and Fugue on BACH, S.529
Sweelinck: 4 Chorale Variations on Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, SwWV.299
Sebastian Forbes: Capriccio
JS Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV.542
JS Bach: Chorale-prelude, Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, BWV.662
Lionel Rogg: Hommage à Franz Liszt

5.45pm – 6pm
Closing remarks and thanks