OrganFax News

David Ingley Celebrates 40 Years In Music with Special FREE Duet Show

Wednesday 7th October

Popular Midlands based organist, David Ingley, this year celebrates his 40th year as a professional musician.

To celebrate, there is a FREE special concert on Thursday 22nd October, presented in association with Kingswinford & District Organ Society, featuring David,who will be joined by fellow musician Michael Wooldridge for solos and duets on organs and piano.

With FREE Admission, FREE Buffet and a special raffle, this is an evening not to be missed.

For more information visit their OrganFax page or call 01384 274 500.

Sad Passing of Dr. Kevin Morgan

Sunday 4th October

We are sad to announce the passing of brilliant organist and pianist, Dr. Kevin Morgan, on Saturday 3rd October.

Kevin started playing piano when he was just 3 years of age and went on to be a highly accomplished pianist, organist and singer, comfortable on theatre, electronic and classical organ, and able to play in every style from classics to jazz.  His talents and studies earnt him a string of diplomas and degrees in music, officially being Dr Kevin Morgan BA, MA, PhD, FRCO, FISM, Hon.FNMSM, LRAM, LTCL.

His wonderful concert performances, warm personality and dry sense of humour will be much missed by all who knew him.

We are grateful to David Alldred of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust for sharing this news with us.

Casio Sessions Prize Winner Announced

Saturday 26th September

Akin Amusan crowned champion of Casio Sessions 2026

• Casio’s much-loved singer-songwriter competition - Casio Sessions - returned for a triumphant fourth year 

 • 16 talented piano-playing musicians took to the stage, performing original compositions 

 • The winner received a PX-S7000HM digital piano with matching designer bench, worth £2,549, plus an exclusive studio mastering session

Casio Music is delighted to announce that Akin Amusan has been crowned the winner of Casio Sessions 2026 - its highly renowned singer-songwriter competition for piano-playing musicians. 

Returning for its fourth year, the live final of Casio Sessions took place last night at Shoreditch Jazz Bar, Ninety One Living Room. Sixteen budding musicians took to the stage to perform their original music to a crowd of music enthusiasts. Each finalist performed while playing Casio’s flagship PX-S7000HM digital piano - the same piano the winner would take home - showcasing both their songwriting and technical skills. 

Each finalist was hand-picked to perform in the live final, making the task of selecting just one winner no easy feat. After watching all 16 performances, judges Neil Evans, Head of EMI; Dan Henry, Field Sales Manager; and Emsy Petersen, EMI Marketing Specialist, all from Casio Music UK, were joined by special guest Martin Turner, Head of Harlesden Evening Centre at Brent Music Services, to decide who would be crowned this year’s winner and take home the fantastic prize.

After much deliberation, the judges decided that the 2026 winner would be Akin Amusan, who silenced the crowd with his moving performance of Carpenter. Akin’s rich, powerful voice reminded the judges of some of the greatest soul singers, from John Legend to Sam Smith, while his songwriting blended deep, emotive harmonies with strikingly honest and reflective lyrics.

Akin Amusan said, “This is a complete shock! I’m so honoured to be chosen from such an incredible group of performers. Songwriting is the purest form of expression for me, so it means a lot to see it celebrated in this way.”

Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, added: Congratulations, Akin! It’s been incredible to see the competition grow over the past four years. Every year, we’re truly blown away by the talent on display, and this year was no exception. What’s been particularly meaningful is seeing the community of budding musicians that has grown around the competition. Casio is honoured to play a part in supporting these artists and being part of their journeys.”

This year, Casio was delighted to present the winner with a prize package of a digital piano with a matching bench, worth £2,549, alongside an exclusive mastering studio session for their winning song. Designed to support both performance and creativity, the PX-S7000 features a hybrid wooden hammer keyboard and built-in vocal effects, making it a fitting prize for an emerging singer-songwriter. All 16 finalists will also receive professional photography and videography captured on the night to help them advance their careers. 

Casio Sessions is a national competition dedicated to supporting piano-playing singer-songwriters and providing a platform for emerging artists to develop their careers. Previous winners have gone on to release new music and perform sold-out shows, demonstrating how the competition can be a launchpad for future talent as well as a community for aspiring musicians. 

More information about Casio Sessions is available https://www.casio.com/uk/electronic-musical-instruments/casio-sessions/ opens in New Tab)

FREE Concert at Pershore Abbey

Friday 25th September

Everyone is welcome to attend a special concert being held at Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire, WR10 1BB, at 7.30pm on Saturday 3rd October.

The conert is to celebrate 3 years of the fabulous Ruffatti pipe organ and will feature James MacDowall-Scott at the console.  Admission is free, with a retiring collection, and light refreshments will be served at the interval.

For more information call 01386 552 071 or visit www.pershoreabbey.org.uk (opens in new tab).

Newly Remastered Electronic Organ & Keyboard Recordings for Sale

Thursday 24th September

A review by Michael Wooldridge of this new release on USB from the September/October Issue of Keyboard Cavalcade Magazine - Visit Keyboard Cavalcade Website to subscribe (opens in new tab)

This new release is from a top player who may not be known to many readers, Dorian Collins.   Back in the 1980s and 90s, alongside organ club concerts, festival appearances and live cabaret work, he was a pioneer at making stunning orchestral arrangements, layering up multiple tracks using a wide array of what was then the latest equipment, and leading the way in what was possible with technology, but then changes in life meant that, in more recent times, he has only been playing a select number of theatre organ concerts.

He has recently digitised some of his recordings from that pioneering time and has released the first album of them for sale, unusually, and in keeping with his cutting edge thinking, on a USB Stick, so you can easily play the recordings in the car or on a computer.

I have to say, the album is staggeringly good, and whilst I well remember Dorian being an amazing player at the time, I had perhaps not recalled just how brilliant his arrangements were and how superb his playing is.  Most importantly, the arrangements and sounds are as fresh as if they were made today on the very latest instruments money can buy and there is nothing that in any way hints at their age.

Dorian Collins and his digital Orchestra "Archive Collection" 1987-2000 has 12 tracks, all great, mostly light orchestral favourites:- Portrait of a Flirt, Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Grasshoppers Dance, The Theme to TV’s Howards Way, A Musical Joke, Star Trek the Menagerie Suite, Thunderbirds, Geronimo, Perpetuum Mobile, Pepe, Its Not Unusual, and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1.

Favourites of these for me include Geronimo, which I used to play when I was working in The Fabulous Shadows Tribute Band, and Dorian has really captured the essence of it here, the Theme to TV’s Howards Way and, of course, Thunderbirds!

Dorian used a massive array of instruments to create the most authentic sounds possible, and these tracks  still sound like they are being played by orchestras and guitarists and drummers, not keyboards and sequencers!  All of these play some part here:- Korg M1R ex / Yamaha HS6 - HS7- MR700 Electones / Yamaha DX7 / Emu Proteus / Roland R5 - TR505 - Alesis HR16 - Yamaha RX11 Drum Machines / Elka MK55 / Musicman / Westone /  Basses / Clarrisa Acoustic Guitar / Yamaha QX3 / Technics PX7 / Hammond A100 / Kawai 100P / Ensoniq Mirage - Akai samplers /  Various Percussions.

Here is a little of Dorian’s background:- Dorian began studying Classical Piano aged eight, graduating to the Classical Pipe Organ aged 16 at Malvern Priory, where he studied Performance, Harmony and Counterpoint.  Although classically trained, his love of light orchestral music and jazz was to bring him into contact with the electronic organ, the instrument with which he became so strongly associated.  In addition to keyboards and organ, he also plays Bass and Rhythm Guitars, Drums and Trumpet, some of which can also be heard on these recordings.

To order your copy, send a cheque for £12.50 (including p&p) payable to ‘Mr Dorian J Collins’ to D. J. Collins, 275 Henwick Road, St. John’s, WORCESTER, WR2 5PG.  If you would prefer to pay by bank transfer, drop him an email to dorianfkab@gmail.com

The photo is a more recent one of him, when playing a concert on the COS Fentham Hall Compton.

Ben Scott-Hyde returns to the concert scene

Thursday 6th August

We are delighted that, after a decade of being unavailable due to to other commitments, Wersi player Ben Scott-Hyde is returning to the world of playing concerts for clubs and societies around the UK.

You may enjoy hearing a recent appearance he made for Fife Organ & Keyboard Club by visiting BenYouTube (opens in new window)

To book Ben for your club, give him a call on 07857 888 013 or drop him an email to benscotthyde@yahoo.com