Concerts and Recitals
at St Alban the Martyr

Pearson Church Organists Concerts 2026

Following the success of the Pearson Church Organists Concert Series of 2025, we are pleased to announce the 2026 series, starting in March.
Lunchtime concerts are on the Saturday before the fourth Sunday of each month, usually at 1.00 – 1.45 p.m.
Admission is free, with a retiring collection for the St Alban's Organ Restoration Appeal.
We need to raise £100,000 to preserve our organ for future generations and to ensure that we can continue to provide an excellent standard of music.
A simple buffet will be available in St Patrick’s room, following each lunchtime concert.

In addition there is a ticketed evening concert on by the internationally renowned David Briggs, a former organist here at St Alban's, currently Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral St John the Divine, New York.

We need to raise £100,000 to preserve our organ for future generations and to ensure that we can continue to provide an excellent standard of music.

Forthcoming Concerts:

6:00 p.m. Sunday 7^th June 2026

Summer Evening Piano Recital

Amy Cox

From Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Amy is currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Programme:
Chopin Etude Op. 25 no. 7 in C sharp Minor
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 no 1 in C Minor
Frank Bridge 3 Poems:
       I. Solitude
      II. Ecstasy
     III. Sunset
J. S. Bach Prelude and Fugue XIV in F sharp Minor BWV 883
J. S. Bach Prelude and Fugue III in C sharp Major BWV 872

Bridge’s meditative “Three Poems” are a perfect accompaniment for a languorous summer sunset.

Free Admission with a optional retiring collection.

3:00 p.m. Saturday 27^th June 2026

Afternoon Organ Concert

Tim Hone

Tim Hone is Director of Music at St George's Church, Cullercoats.

Part of our series of concerts by organists associated with churches designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Programme:
Theme and Variations by Hendrik Andriessen
Variations on Mein junges Leben hat ein End by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Concerto in E flat BWV 597 attributed to J.S. Bach
Fantasie in F Minor KV 608 by W.A. Mozart
Variations of Vater unser i, Himmelreich (Sonata VI) by F. Mendelssohn
Impromptu by Louis Vierne
Final (Sonata I) by Alexandre Guilmant

Free admission with a retiring collection for our Organ Restoration Fund.

1:00 p.m. Saturday 25^th July 2026

Lunchtime Organ Concert

Tom Stockwell

Formerly Director of Music at St Augustine, Killburn, Tom was recently ordained and is now assistant curate at St Mary's Church, Attleborourgh, in the diocese of Norwich.

Part of our series of concerts by organists associated with churches designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Programme:
Fanfare by William Mathias
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV 731 by J.S. Bach
Psalm Prelude (Set 1 No. 1) by Herbert Howells
Pavane and Galliards for the Earl of Salisbury by William Byrd
Elegy by George Thalben-Ball
Prelude and Fugue in G Major BWV 557 by J.S. Bach
Prelude on a Theme of Orland Gibbons by C.V. Stanford
Incantation pour un jour Saint by Jean Langlais

Free admission with a retiring collection for our Organ Restoration Fund.

1:00 p.m. Saturday 22^nd August 2026

Lunchtime Organ Concert

John Butt

John Butt is musical director of Dunedin Consort and a Principal Artist with the OAE. He was Director of Music here at st Alban's Church from 1977 to1979, while still at school, before becoming organ scholar of King’s College Cambridge.

Part of our series of concerts by organists associated with churches designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Progamme:
Prelude and Fugue in E Minor – J.S. Bach
Chorale No, 2 in B Minor – César Frank
Three Pieces; Variations sur un theme de Clément: Jannequin / Le Jardain Suspendu / Litanies – Jehan Alain

Free admission with a retiring collection for our Organ Restoration Fund.

Choral Masterclass and Choral Evensong with David Briggs

19^th September 2026, 3:00p.m.–6:00p.m.

Choral Masterclass 3:00p.m.–4:15p.m.; Choral Evensong 5:00p.m.–6:00p.m.

Choral Masterclass and Choral Evensong with David Briggs (Artist in Residence, The Cathedral of St John the Divine, New York, and former Organist at St Alban’s).

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sing in a choir conducted by a combination of Charlie Chaplin, Mr Bean, and David Briggs?

Come and experience an inspiring and fully engaging choral masterclass and memorable Choral Evensong at St Alban’s on Saturday 19^th September 2026.

Glorious music by Stanford, Parry (I was glad), and David himself.

Rehearsal is at 3:00–4:15 p.m. with the Service at 5:00–6:00p.m.

Come and be energised, entertained, and moved by the singular power of stunning choral music in one of the UK’s finest acoustic environments.

This event is organised in partnership with 'Come and Sing’.

Attendance to the Masterclass event is expected to be very popular, so please don’t delay!

More details are available from our Director of Music, Angela Sones. Domsaintalban@hotmail.com

Additionally, David is playing an Organ Concert at 7:30 p.m., and entry is free to all choral participants.

In line with RSCM guidance we ask for £5 per person to cover the cost of music production for the event.

7:30 p.m. Saturday 19^th September 2026

Evening Organ Concert

David Briggs

Internationally renowned organist David Briggs, a former organist here at St Alban's, is currently Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral St John the Divine, New York.

Programme:
Tanets by Naji Hakim
Intermezzo by Jehan Alain
Concerto in D Major BWV 1054 by J.S. Bach, transcribed for organ by Bernard Winsemius - Allegro/Adagio e piano sempre/Allegro
Cantabile Symphonique by Camille Saint-Saëns arranged by Virgil Fox
Four Concert Improvisations by David Briggs in the styles of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, F. Mendelssohn and M. Ravel.

Tickets can be booked through Eventbrite.

Regular tickets cost £20 (plus booking fee). If seats are available students with valid student identification will be admitted free.

1:00 p.m. Saturday 26^th September 2026

Lunchtime Organ Concert

James Lancelot

James is Canon Organist Emeritus at Durham Cathedral. His first church was Pearson's St Patrick's, Frank Street, where his father was assistant priest.  St Patrick's was demolished when the Birmingham Middleway ring road was constructed and the parishes of St Alban and St Patrick were united. 

Part of our series of concerts by organists associated with churches designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Programme:
Prelude and fugue in B Minor BWV544 by J.S. Bach
Fugue in the name B A C H, Op. 60 No. 3 by Robert Schumann
Introduction and Passacaglia in E Minor (Sonata No. 8, Op132) by Josef Rheinberger
Chorale Prelude on the melody Quem pastores by James Healy Willan
Postlude pour l'Office de Complies JA 29 by Jehan Alain
Sonata No. 2 in D Op. 50 by Félix-Alexandre Guilmant

Free admission with a retiring collection for our Organ Restoration Fund.

1:00 p.m. Saturday 24^th October 2026

Lunchtime Organ Concert

Angela Sones

Much in demand as a recitalist and choral accompanist, Angela is Director of Music here at the Church of St Alban the Martyr. 

Part of our series of concerts by organists associated with churches designed by architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Programme:
Variations de concert Op. 1 by Joseph Bonnet
Organ Symphony No. 6 Op. 42 No. 2 by Charles-Marie Widor

Free admission with a retiring collection for our Organ Restoration Fund.

Past Concerts

Here is a recording of a short classical song recital by Salwan Cartwright-Shamoon accompanied on the piano by Xizi Zhang at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday 18th September 2021.

More details and the programme are here: http://www.saintalban.co.uk/news/2021/09/09/classical-song-recital/.

We hope to add more concerts, so do check back here regularly, or if you would like to be added to a list to be notified of musical events at the church, send an e-mail to info@saintalban.co.uk.

And here is a link to a recording by the BBC of a concert in the church back in 1987: