Grand Organ Festival 2025
The Grand Organ of Westminster Cathedral is considered by many to be the greatest achievement and crowning glory of Henry Willis III, one of England’s finest organ builders. Each year, some of the world’s most distinguished and talented organists are invited to give headline recitals as part of our Grand Organ Festival.
In 2024, we were delighted to welcome our largest ever festival audiences to hear stunning recitals by Simon Johnson (Westminster Cathedral), Peter Stevens (Westminster Cathedral), Thomas Ospital (St Eustache, Paris), and Peter Holder (Christ Church, Oxford).
‘The sheer impact on the listener is unforgettable’
Stephen Bicknell
We are delighted to announce another thrilling line-up for the 2025 edition, featuring concert organists Jonathan Scott and Peter King, Peter Stevens (Westminster Cathedral), and Simon Johnson (Westminster Cathedral) performing works by J.S. Bach, Saint-Saëns (excerpts from the Organ Symphony in C minor and Danse Macabre), Messiaen (L’Ascension), Handel, Mozart, Vierne, Howells, Reger and many more.
Concerts take place on Wednesdays 17th and 24th September, and 1st and 8th October at 7.30pm. Tickets (£15/£12 concessions) are available on the door.
For full details of each recital, please see below.
17 September 2025
Jonathan Scott, concert organist
Jonathan Scott is known throughout the world for his virtuoso arrangements and performances of major orchestral music for the pipe organ and, with his brother Tom, his performance videos on the ‘Scott Brother Duo’ YouTube channel, which has achieved over 100 million views. Jonathan’s programme, entitled ‘The Symphonic Organ’, is:
| Passacaglia (Suite No. 7 in G minor HWV 432) – Handel |
| ‘I pini di Roma’ (Pines of Rome – Respighi arr. Scott |
| ‘Organ’ Symphony No.3 in C minor Op.78 – Saint-Saëns arr. Scott |
| Lacrimosa (Requiem K.626) – Mozart arr. Scott |
24 September 2025
Peter Stevens, Westminster Cathedral
Peter Stevens has been Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral since 2011. His latest CD, Symphonie Romane, has been named one of Gramophone magazine’s ‘Best Classical Albums of 2025’ (So Far). Peter will play:
| Introduction & Passacaglia in D minor – Reger |
| Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Gebot BWV 678 – J.S. Bach |
| Magnificat primi toni BuxWV 203 – Buxtehude |
| Fantaisie in A major – Franck |
| Postlude (L’Orgue Mystique, Office II) – Tournemire |
| Introduction, Passacaglia and Fugue in E flat minor – Willan |
1 October 2025
Simon Johnson, Westminster Cathedral
Described by Gramophone magazine as ‘a brilliant and sensitive musician’, Simon Johnson has been Director of Music at Westminster Cathedral since 2021. Simon’s latest recording, B-A-C-H Anatomy of a Motif was described by The Organ magazine as ‘one of the most significant releases for the organ…for some time.’ Simon will play:
| Prelude and Fugue in E minor BWV 678 – J.S. Bach |
| Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr’ BWV 663 – J.S. Bach |
| L’Ascension – Messiaen |
| Rhapsody No. 3 in C sharp minor – Howells |
| Scherzo and Allegro risoluto from Symphonie II – Vierne |
8 October 2025
Peter King, Organist Emeritus, Bath Abbey
Peter King was Director of Music at Bath Abbey from 1986-2016, and is in demand as a recitalist around the world. Described as ‘a virtuoso of world class’ who plays ‘with such élan, and with such passion, such commitment.’ Peter plays a recital in memory of former Assistant Master of Music Nicolas Kynaston (1941-2025):
| Toccata ‘Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt’ – Karg-Elert |
| Choral No.3 in A minor – Franck |
| Excelsior! & Ave Maria ‘The Bells of Rome’ – Liszt |
| Funerailles (from Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses) – Liszt transcr. Kynaston |
| Entrée de Poymnie (from Les Boréades) – Rameau transcr. King |
| Danse Macabre – Saint-Saëns transcr. Lemare |
| Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue – J.S. Bach transcr. Reger |
