OrganFax News

Royalty Bowness Wurlitzer Events

Saturday 10th January

The Wurlitzer organ at the Royalty Cinema in Bowness-On-Windermere is to be featured in a series of concerts and tea dances this year, as well as for other special events.

Concerts planned so far take place at 12.30pm and are normally on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.

Upcoming concerts include

February 17th Elizabeth Harrison

March 17th Cameron Lloyd

April 21st David Ivory

May 19th Andrew Nix

16th June Mark Speight

July 21st Paul Gregson & Mark Latimer

Tea Dances are normally on the second Sunday of the month at 2.00pm and include a cream tea at the interval.

For more information visit their website (opens in new window).

Enjoy Watching the Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition Online

Wednesday 17th September

THe Wurlitzer Heritage Trust (WHT) held this year's Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition on the fabulous Wurlitzer at The Musical Museum (MM) in Brentford.  You can enjoy watching the whole event here:

Video of YTOY 2025 (opens in new tab)

For more information about the competition and other events visit The Wurlitzer Heritage Trust (opens in new tab)

For more information about the museum and their events visit The Musical Museum  (opens in new tab)

If you know any young players who may like to enter next year, drop an email to event organiser Michael Wooldridge - michael@wokingwurlitzer.co.uk

Oscar Battle is the Young Theatre Organist of the Year 2025

Tuesday 12th August

The Wurlitzer Heritage Trust staged this year's UK Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition at the Musical Museum in Brentford on Sunday 3rd August.

Everyone agreed that the standard of playing from the young entrants was very high this year, often showing maturity far greater than their years.

The three judges, all distinguished theatre organists, David Ivory (Chairman), Byron Jones BEM and Andy Quin, took quite a while in deliberation but, in the end, made the unanimous decision that this year's winner is 15 year old Oscar Battle from Norwich.

Since winning, Oscar has already featured in a concert with Michael Wooldridge and been featured in a lovely feature on BBC TV's Look East and in a lovely feature, which you can enjoy at: BBC Article BBC Article (opens in new tab)

Oscar has already secured bookings to appear in concerts at the Woking Wurlitzer, the Rye Wurlitzer, the Worthing Wurlitzer and the Studio Standaart, with many more to come for this wonderful but modest young man.

Congratulations Oscar!

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.