The story behind the St. John's festival organ recitals
1979 saw the start of the Buxton Festival, also the start of the St. John's Festival Organ Recitals. It was the idea of the late John Rimington, choirman, to provide the opportunity for the many people at the Festival to hear St. John's magnificent four-manual instrument. Since they were to be afternoon recitals, Mrs Barbara Oldham, the vicar's wife, suggested we provide cream teas too; and Fred Parnell, St. John's organist, decided to invite organ scholars from Oxford and Cambridge colleges

HE OXBRIDGE organ scholars are all excellent players and many of the recitalists now hold important positions in the musical and academic world. The very first recitalist, Simon Lawford is now organist of Perth Cathedral, Australia, and another fifteen have become cathedral organists in this country

The 1997 recital by Robert Quinney, King's College, Cambridge, was of particular interest and pleasure, for Robert was a pupil of Mary Macfarlane, a former pupil of Fred Parnell. Mary herself won the organ scholarship at Girton College, Cambridge. Michael Williams is now arranging the recitals. This year they will be on Thursdays at 3.30- July 15th Nicholas Shaw, Magdalen College, Oxford; July 22nd Iain Farrington, St. John's College, Cambridge

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