OrganFax News

Bournemouth Summer and Autumn Concerts Dates Announced

Monday 28th July

The superb Compton theatre pipe organ at the wonderful Pavilion Theatre in Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU, is once again to be featured in a series of lunchtime and special concerts this autumn.

• Thursday 31 July: David Ivory - Compton Organ

• Tuesday 5 August: Mark Speight - Compton Organ

• Thursday 28 August: Declan Poole - Compton Organ

• Thursday 4 September: Michael Wooldridge – Compton Organ & Steinway Piano

• Thursday 11 September: Chris Powell – Compton Organ

• Tuesday 23 September: Byron Jones BEM – Compton Organ and Steinway Piano

• Thursday 2 October: Andy Quin – Compton Organ & Steinway Piano

• Thursday 9 October: Cameron Lloyd – Compton Organ

• Tuesday 4 November: Aaron Hawthorne – Compton Organ & Steinway Piano

Doors open at 12.30pm, concerts start at 1pm and last one hour. Concerts are subject to change/cancellation.

Special events:

• Tuesday 4 November, 8pm: Aaron Hawthorne will be conducting a live score to the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera! Tickets from £10 - £12 (fees apply).  https://www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk/events/phantom-of-the-opera-2025

• Thursday 18 December, 2:30pm: Join us for a special Christmas Cracker Concert featuring music from Michael Wooldridge and Ian Carter and the choir from the Bournemouth and Boscombe Light Opera Company. This event is free entry.

It is a joy to just to be in this magnificent venue, and with the fabulous organ as well, it is a not to be missed treat, so do try to attend at least one concert during the season, and hopefully many more.

Admission is just £5 each – tickets at the door - cash only

Doors open at 12.30pm and Concerts start at 1pm and last a good hour

Concerts are subject to change/cancellation

Find us on Facebook - The Compton Organ - Bournemouth Pavilion

Information 01202-055660

Stilton In Tune to Continue Into the Future

Monday 23rd June

There is good news from Stilton!

Following the recent decision made by Tony & Pat Oliver to reluctantly retire in December 2025 from running concerts for STILTON IN TUNE, we’re delighted to announce that the concerts WILL CONTINUE with Music4You's Chris & Joanne Powell at the helm!

All artistes are booked for 2026 and we look forward to some more fantastic afternoons at The Pavilion, High St, STILTON, Peterborough, PE7 3RA.

Concerts commence at 2.30pm. A warm welcome awaits!

The concerts are ongoing and always take place on the first Sunday of the month, with the next one being on Sunday 6th July 2025 with the ever popular Andrew Nix!

Please spread the word and let's keep Live music and our kind of music alive!

For more details of upcoming dates, visit their OrganFax Page (opens in new tab).

Stockport Wurlitzer Concerts Postponed

Monday 23rd June

Unfortuntaely the wonderful Wurlitzer at Stockport Town Hall is currently out of commission following water damage, so all concerts there have been suspended until 2026.

The Start of a New Era for Robert Davies

Saturday 17th May

The end of one era. The start of a new one!

After working with Brian Price of BOHM Organ Studios, Nottingham, since 1988 and having had a break from the concert scene due to Covid, a new and exciting time has begun for Robert, who is now touring with Yamaha Genos and bass pedals.

As a regular festival performer in previous years, at such popular events as Caister, Barton Hall, Blackpool and Lyme Bay, and at numerous clubs and societies up and down the country playing BOHM organs, he has put together a new and varied concert programme featuring music from great musicals, light classics, ballads and stirring marches, along with music from the 60's and 70's, all now performed on Yamaha Genos.  The concerts he has already performed with the Genos have all received outstanding reviews.

To read more about Robert and for details of how to book him, visit his OrganFax page. (Link opens in a new window)           

A Royal Award in the 2025 New Year Honours

Tuesday 31st December

Our world of music has been blessed with quite a number or awards over the years, including MBEs for Phil Kelsall and the late Len Rawle, and BEMs for Byron Jones amd Nicholas Martin.

We are thrilled to announce that in the 2025 New Year Honours, His Majesty King Charles III has awarded Richard Moore the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his 'Services to Music Education and Preservation in East Sussex'.

Richard has worked tirelessly supporting many different charitable organisations for around 50 years but is best known to us for encouraging many, many young people to play the organ at the Rye Wurlitzer Academy and TPOPS Academy, and also for ensuring a safe and secure future for the historic Rye Wurlitzer, with a very special celebration concert (with two organists, variety stars, comedy silent film and cream tea) planned for its 100th birthday on 6th April 2025 (see the Rye Wurlitzer page in our Club Directory for details).

Richard is now also sometimes seen helping out at Cavalcade Festivals, so you will be able to congratulate him in person if you come aong to the 40th anniversary Hemsby Festival in March!

Congratulations, Richard Moore BEM.

Video of Len Rawle MBE Tribute Afternoon

Thursday 5th December

A couple of weeks ago there was a very special afternoon in celebration and memory of the life of master musician Len Rawle, who passed away a year ago. 

Len had a huge impact on the organ world internationally, being largely responsible for the design of Yamaha Electones for many years, including the popular D85 and the FX/FS/FE range, and also saved over 40 theatre pipe organs. 

The 2 hour long event was put together by Len's long term fan and friend, organist Michael Wooldridge, with guest appearances from fellow organists Byron Jones and Andy Quin, oration from Richard Moore and Richard Cole, and photo and video memories shared by the Woking Wurlitzer Team.

If you would like to enjoy this informative and musical celebration of Len's life, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2V9LgBKrqM (link opens in new tab)

For more information about future events at Woking visit www.wokingwurlitzer.co.uk (link opens in new tab)