Join us for our latest recital at 1pm on Tuesday 11th April with Charles Francis (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire). Free entry, retiring collection.
PROGRAMME
Sinfonia de la Cantata 29 (arr. Marcel Dupré) – J.S.Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata 1 in F minor, Op. 65/1 – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
I. Allegro moderato e serioso
II. Adagio
III. Andante. Recitativo
IV. Allegro assai vivace
Cantique, Op.3 – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Andante tranquillo and Folk Tune (from Five Short Pieces) – Percy Whitlock (1903-1946)
Cantabile – César Franck (1822-1890)
Transports de Joie – Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
Charles Francis is a young organist with a growing reputation across the UK. Recent engagements include recitals at Westminster Abbey (which was sponsored by The Keyboard Charitable Trust), St Paul’s Cathedral and St John’s, Smith Square in London, as well as cathedrals in Truro, Portsmouth and Newcastle. Charles’ playing has earned him various accolades, including First Prizes in both the IAO/RCO Organ Playing Competition (2022) and the Dame Gillian Weir Messiaen Competition (2019). Charles is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and works as Assistant Director of Music at St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton. Before this, Charles spent two years as Organ Scholar at St Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
Charles is currently an undergraduate student at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying the organ with Daniel Moult and Nicholas Wearne. This also allows for regular opportunities to study with Martin Schmeding (Leipzig) and Nathan Laube (Eastman). During this time, he has been accompanist to the critically acclaimed Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Skidmore and Paul Spicer. In November 2022 and on the nomination of the Conservatoire, Charles was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
Before moving to Birmingham, Charles was fortunate to maintain regular deputising roles with Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals which, in addition to occasional work with the resident choirs, offered the opportunity to play with ensembles from the USA, Canada, the Netherlands and the UK.
