We were thrilled to welcome OGs, parents, pupils and visitors from the local community and as far away as Manchester, to listen to Matt Walters (B18) give an inspirational organ concert in the Abbey Church on Friday. Matt has had a busy twelve months, gaining over 100,000 listeners online, so we were extremely lucky that he was able to join us, playing on the same organ that he learnt to play on whilst here at Downside, before going on to study Classics at Cambridge, where he held an organ scholarship.
The programme included a wide breadth of pieces including Widor’s Toccata, Elgar’s Nimrod, Bach’s Air on the G String, films scores by Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone and Howard Shore, as well as a selection of Matt’s own incredible compositions.
Matt said “There is something compelling about hearing a piece of music you hold dear reinterpreted on an instrument as magnificent as the organ. Combined with the beautiful spaces an organ is usually situated within, it can be an experience like no other. I never thought that the mashup of dance tracks and film on the organ would ever attain so much interest, and it’s clear that the global consciousness towards organ music is shifting in real time. Tradition is absolutely important and should not be forgotten, but making organ music interesting to wider audiences will inevitably mean pushing the boundaries of what people would consider ‘typical’ organ music. Striking a balance between tradition and innovation is an art in itself. It was amazing to return to Downside for a concert as it is where I began learning the organ and feels like home. Thanks to everyone who came to see me play. It was brilliant to see both the younger and older generation sharing in the experience of organ music.”
Inspired by Matt’s career and others who have learnt the organ whilst at Downside, we offer two fully-funded organ scholarships annually to promote excellence in organ playing. To find out more about the Sill Organ Scholarship, please email admissions@downside.co.uk.
Matt is embarking on an organ tour in 2025 around the UK – to find out more please click here