OrganFax Directory

Derby Organ and Keyboard Club

Telephone Number :  01332 775656

Email address :  thomas.highfield1@ntlworld.com

Contact name :  Clive Highfield

Venue address : St Georges Social Centre, Village Street, Off Balaclava Road, Derby, DE23 8SZ

About Derby Organ and Keyboard Club

The original electronic organ club in Derby was the Hammond Organ Society, which was formed in 1967 by Vincent Doyle, Philip Foulds, Arnold Moreton and a group of organ enthusiasts who were interested in the new electronic organs produced by Hammond. There have been a number of changes in the ensuing years.

The aims of the club are to create and encourage organ music, friendship and fellowship through the club. Many famous names have played in Derby over the last few years, Phil Kelsall, Nigel Ogden, Robert Wolfe, John Bowdler, Nick Martin, Jean Martyn, Howard Beaumont and of course our own President and Vice Presidents Phil Brown, Chris Powell and Claire Greig. Many of these great organists have been Blackpool Tower organists and have also played on the radio and TV. You have only to look at our current program to see that we still attract and book the best organists that are available, not forgetting the new up and coming stars of the future.

Phil Brown our current President took over the Presidents position when Mike Slater retired in 2003. Shortly afterwards Chris Powell became our Vice President and now we also have Claire Greig, another popular, attractive young organist from Derby as an additional Vice President. They all do a wonderful job for us and are very supportive of the committee, appearing at charity concerts and other functions that we arrange from time to time.

The Derby Organ & Keyboard Club, as it had become known, was formed by a small number of enthusiasts and nearly closed in 2000. However, with the determination of a few and a move of venue to the St. George's Social Club we started to flourish, and now have a membership of over 150. Also attracting visitors from a wide area. We hold special concerts at the Rolls Royce Pavilion in Derby as the seating capacity is much greater, attracting audiences of over 170 persons. First Class entertainment in a warm and friendly atmosphere can be assured, at either venue.

Phil Brown - Pre sident of the D.O.K.C.

A local well known personality was born in Derby and started to learn the organ at the age of ten. at twelve he was playing the local church organ. By the time he reached seventeen he was performing with Des O'Connor and other popular singers and entertainers. He has also performed with the great Joe Loss and Syd Lawrence bands. He is the resident organist at the Derby Assembly rooms and has been for the last twenty years, playing for socials and tea dances. Playing the Bohm organ takes him all over Europe, for demonstrations and big concerts run by the Bohm organization.

Chris Powell - Vice president of the D.O.K.C.

Chris was born in Manchester in 1971. Shortly afterwards his family moved to New Zealand. In 1977 they moved back to England and Chris started to have music lessons on the piano and organ. His hard work paid off when he started to play the mighty Wurlitzer organ in the Tower Ballroom Blackpool on a regular basis for five years. He now plays all over the world, and visits Australia and New Zealand regularly playing concerts on both electronic and theatre organs.

Claire Grieg - Vice President of the D.O.K.C.

Claire was born in Derby on the 28th of April 1980 where she still lives today. Claire has played at the local organ society and been involved in a number of charity concerts. Her annual visits to the National Organ Festival had continued, from which she had gained much experience and support over the years. She started playing on the organ circuit in mid 1998 and has slowly been making a name for herself over the last few years. She started teaching part-time at a local music school in 2000 but due to study commitments is now only teaching private lessons.

Since taking over as chairman my aim has been to  running one concert per year for charity. We have done one for The Nightingale Macmillan Unit, one for the Stroke unit at the D.R.I. and one for TreeTops Hospice, this year we are doing one for the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. i am pleased to tell you that St George's Social Centre do not charge for the room hire for charity concerts,  our thanks to Father Allan and manageress Karan. Also our guest Organist this year, one of the top organists in the country, Glynn Madden will be performing for us free of charge. This is your chance to see one the greats in the organ world. Thanks Glyn and also Dr. Tony Bethell for all the arrangements.  

T.Clive Highfield Chairman 

The club usually meets on the last Monday of the month at 7.30pm

Subscription: £4.00

Members admission to Concerts: £5.00 Starting from Jan. 1st 2012

(Bona-fide members of other Derbyshire Organ Clubs £5.00)

Visitors admission to Concerts: £6.00 Starting from Jan.1st. 2012

The club also runs Social evenings on the second Monday of the month at 7.00pm

Admission to the Social evenings are £1.50 including refreshments. (Tea/coffee & biscuits)

Our Venue

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