The Hiking Organist Day 2: Heslington Church – Alex Woodrow plays Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, Wesley & Widor
The Hiking Organist Day 2: Heslington Church – Alex Woodrow plays Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, Wesley & Widor at Heslington Church
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The Hiking Organist Day 2: Heslington Church – Alex Woodrow plays Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne, Wesley & Widor FREE
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About the show
As part of an extraordinary 104-mile fundraising journey across Yorkshire, Leeds Minster's Director of Music, Alexander Woodrow, visits Heslington Church for the second recital in The Hiking Organist challenge.
Over six days, Alex will walk the White Rose Way from Leeds to Scarborough, giving organ recitals in churches along the route while raising funds for the Leeds Minster Choral Scholarship Programme.
This exciting 50-minute organ recital features some of the best-loved works in the repertoire, including J. S. Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Widor's brilliant Toccata from Symphony No. 5, together with music by S. S. Wesley, Mendelssohn and Vierne.
Combining music, endurance and fundraising, The Hiking Organist celebrates Yorkshire's churches, organs and musical heritage while helping invest in the next generation of young musicians.
Admission is free.
A cash retiring collection will be shared equally between the Leeds Minster Choral Scholarship Programme and the mission and ministry of Heslington Church.
Refreshments will be served following the recital.
Support the Journey. Inspire the Future.
Featuring - Alex Woodrow
Alexander Woodrow has been Organist and Director of Music at Leeds Minster since 2020 and leads a busy professional life as a choral director, organ recitalist, church musician and teacher.
He directs two chamber choirs – St Peter’s Singers of Leeds and the Huddersfield Singers – and is accompanist to the Yorkshire Philharmonic Choir. At Leeds Minster he leads a vibrant music department, directing the Choir of Leeds Minster in regular choral services and overseeing the Leeds Minster Children’s Choir in partnership with St Peter’s C of E Primary School. He also curates the Minster’s organ recital series, showcasing its renowned Harrison & Harrison organ.
Alexander directed the Choir of Leeds Minster for the live BBC One Easter Day broadcast in 2022. More recently he conducted the Choir of Leeds Minster and St Peter’s Singers in a recording of sacred choral and organ music by William Lloyd Webber for Priory Records, including the first commercial recording of the cantata The Saviour.
He studied music as Organ Scholar at Magdalene College, Cambridge and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at the age of 19, winning first prizes in all categories including the Limpus Prize. An active recitalist, he has performed widely across the UK and regularly broadcasts on BBC radio and television.