The Rye Wurlitzer

OrganFax Directory

Rye Wurlitzer

Telephone Number :  01424 444 058

Email address :  r.fm@btopenworld.com

Website :  www.ryewurlitzer.co.uk

Contact name :  Richard Moore

Venue address : The RyeTheatre, Rye College, Love Lane, East Sussex, TN31 7NQ

About Rye Wurlitzer

PLEASE NOTE - ALL SUNDAY CONCERTS are at 2.30pm - ALL FRIDAY EVENTS ARE AT 7.15pm

The historic Rye Wurlitzer is the second oldest in the country, having originally been opened by organist Jack Courtney at the Palace Cinema, Tottenham, on 6th April 1925, where it remained until it moved to Rye in August 1957.  In 1993, enthusiast Richard Moore set about raising funds to restore it and now it is probably better than when new.

The Wurlitzer was a Style D, Opus 999, with 2 manuals and 6 ranks of pipes (so around 450 pipes).  Through a series of fund raising concerts and events, plus various grant applications, sufficient funding was raised, combined with much volunteer work, to restore the organ to playing condition and to move the console down from its original position on the balcony to assume pride of place, centre stage on a lift.  It has undergone subtle but effective enhancement by the addition of a rank of Virtual (digitally sampled) Wurlitzer Pipework to add a String Celeste and Oboe, which, along with a piano, harp and chrysoglott samples, has kindly been provided by Paramount Virtual Organ Works, along with two additional ranks of real pipes, a Clarinet and a Kinura, making it a 2/10.

In 2009, realising that there was a lack of young talent coming forward to play theatre organ, following an initial donation from Tony Akehurst in memory of his wife Rita, Richard decided to try creating a scheme to develop and nurture any interested students at Rye College into budding young theatre organists, giving pupils the opportunity to learn on the school's historic 1925 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ.  A small group of students was about to embark on a very special musical journey, which began with a few masterclasses and the Rye Wurlitzer Academy was born.

Realising that if the project was to be successful some more regular form of tuition was needed, Sussex-based international theatre organist, Michael Wooldridge, came forward and offered help with one-to-one teaching sessions.  These sessions have been on-going as and when funding has allowed and the results from Michael's relatively brief sessions with the students has been staggering, with many now able to play in concerts and four having been featured on BBC Radio 2.  Besides some generous donations to help with the costs of running the tuition, many people also came forward to offer electronic organs so the students could practice at home.

This is the only scheme of its kind running in the UK at the present time. Nowhere else offers FREE tuition on a fully restored Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ to students during their normal school days.  To further encourage the students, they have been taken on field trips to experience other organs and organists, including in 2013 a trip to the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, where they each tried their hands on the Mighty Wurlitzer, and to the Astoria Project in Barnsley, so they could all learn more about how an organ works and try their hands at making some small motors from wood, leather and fish glue!

Whilst longer term funding is being sought, this scheme is kept afloat by continuing private donations, and by fund raising events, which, on Friday evenings, are normally special events where the organ is used alongside other popular forms of entertainment.  Our Rye events provide a major funding source for the Rye Wurlitzer Academy but if you feel you would like to make a donation to help support this work, please do so at http://ryewurlitzeracademy.co.uk/donations.htm

In the words of Ann Cockerham (Former Executive Principal of the Rye Academy Trust) : “We feel incredibly privileged to have Michael Wooldridge leading our Wurlitzer Academy.  He has inspired many of our young people who want to learn to play the Wurlitzer and has given them tremendous encouragement to develop their skills as organists. We are also most grateful to Richard Moore for his vision in starting this initiative and to those organisations which have sponsored the project, enabling this invaluable tuition to become reality”.

We now have a popular series of traditional Sunday theatre organ concerts, featuring the UK's favourite players, and, alongside those, Friday nights shows which have that something extra to add variety.  We very much hope you will enjoy coming along to hear this truly superb little Wurlitzer.

Events are at 7.15pm on Fridays (doors open 6.45pm) and on Sundays at 2.30pm (doors open 2pm).  There is ample free car parking on site.

Rye Wurlitzer's Photo Gallery

The Organ now 'On Stage' at The Milligan Theatre Rye The Rye Wurlitzer Console Inside the pipe chambers RWA students visiting the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer with organist David Lobban Richard Moore and Jamyma Hanson John Mann at Rye Rye Proms 2024 Jean Martin Jazz Night - Richard Moore, Liane Carroll, Michael Wooldridge and Russell Field Michael Wooldridge at the Rye Wurlitzer Console Tabs

Rye Wurlitzer's Concert Diary

2025
February 23rdConcert Postponed
March 7thJazz supper with Liane Carroll and Michael Wooldridge and Fish and Chip Supper
March 7thMichael Wooldridge (more details)

with top internatinal jazz singer, Liane Carroll, with a fresh cooked fish and chip supper at the interval

April 6thMichael Wooldridge (more details)

A special show to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Rye Wurlitzer, recreating its opening show on 6th April 1925, featuring star of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, George Mitchell Minstrel Singer Peter Chapman, memories of the Blackpool Tower and Reg Dixon with Cameron Lloyd, a Silent Film Comedy, a Cream Tea and Michael at the Wurlitzer,

April 6thThe Wurlitzer 100 Show - Celebrating 100 years to the day since the Rye Wurlitzer first opened on 6th April 1925 at the Palace Cinema, Tottenham, with
April 6thCameron Lloyd (more details)

A special show to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Rye Wurlitzer, recreating its opening show on 6th April 1925, featuring star of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett, George Mitchell Minstrel Singer Peter Chapman, memories of the Blackpool Tower and Reg Dixon with Cameron Lloyd, a Silent Film Comedy, a Cream Tea and Michael Wooldridge at the Wurlitzer,

May 9thJean Martyn ATCL LGSM (more details)

with a Jacket Potato Supper

July 20thMichael Wooldridge (more details)

with John Mann

July 20thJohn Mann (more details)

with Michael Wooldridge

September 12thMichael Wooldridge (more details)

The annual Rye Proms featuring Michael and the Rye Bay Crew

September 12thThe Annual Rye Proms Night
October 10thAndy Quin (more details)

Silent Film Night

December 5thMichael Wooldridge (more details)

Christmas Wurlitzer with Special Guests

December 5thChristmas Wurlitzer with Michael Wooldridge and Special Guests