ALTON ORGAN SOCIETY (Founded 1967) ♬♪𝄞 Updated Tuesday 4 February 2026

Alton Organ Society's 2025/2026 Season of Organ Concerts
Organ Recitals Nationwide


Oliver Morrell (Winchester Cathedral) gave a wonderfully varied programme during his debut appearance at St Lawrence Church on Tuesday 3 February. Despite cold and wet weather, our dedicated and loyal audience turned out to experience a truly complete and professional performance. Inclusion of JS Bach's works is almost mandatory and Oliver cleverly placed four pieces by Bach which demonstrated his composing genius in differing structures. "Piece d'Orgue" set the scene in a most polished delivery which was followed three chorale preludes of very contrasting styles. During his short life, the young genius Felix Mendelssohn reinstated the popularity of Bach's organ music using his own organ playing skills. Oliver played Mendelssohn's own "Prelude and Fugue in D minor", again, with skill and musicianship.

Marcel Dupré was renown for his organ playing skills especially in improvisation. He travelled widely especially in the USA where he performed memorable organ concerts. Some of his improvisations were on symphonic scale and took time and big effort to transcribe for publication. Oliver's choice was a contrast in following the programme pattern of fugue writing. Dupré's "Fugue in F minor" was very different and, seemingly, more complex. Nonetheless, Oliver played it wonderfully with apparent ease! Following this, we heard two short pieces; James MacMillan's very Scottish stylish "White Note Paraphrase" and Jean Langlais' "Pastoral-Prelude" from his Three Characteristic Pieces. Langlais was very precise in his registration settings relying on the colours of the organ to enhance his compositions. Oliver's settings highlighted his own skills and the quality of the St Lawrence Church organ's quieter stops. Next we heard two pieces by Herbert Howells; "Master Tallis' Testament" and "Saraband in modo elegiaco". There was a touch of melancholy in both pieces which showed Howells' unique composing style probably reflecting on the tragic loss of his young son, Michael. Both were beautifully played adding further contrast to the programme. It is always good to end a programme on a high and Oliver chose Charles-Marie Widor's Fifth Symphony playing the subtle "Adagio" leading to the ever popular "Toccata" frequently played at weddings. Doubtless, there would have been a serious attack of nostalgia from members of the audience!

It was most evident hearing the comments from the retiring audience that Oliver's choice music, his well thought out programme and his mature and professional delivery made his concert an undoubted success. We wish him well and success during his time at Winchester Cathedral. His concert programme can be viewed here.

The third organ concert in 2026 will be given by Carol Williams (International Concert Organist) on Tuesday 3 March 2026 starting at 8.00 pm. Refreshments will be available from 7.30 pm. Carol's programme can be viewed here. When studying the organ as a youngster, Carol frequently practised on the St Lawrence Church organ so this will be a familiar return to her roots. Do visit her website

Full details of the wonderful line up of guest organists can be seen here. Keep in touch and visit this website and see details of individual organists as their respective programmes and biographies are added. Admission to each concert is £12. However, you can take out Season Membership for £72 which is equivalent to £9 for each of the 8 organ concerts between October 25 and May 26.
Alton Organ Society Committee - New Members Welcome

The organ society committee is keen to attract new members to maintain the future success of Alton Organ Society now in its 59th year. There are tasks that do not require organ playing skills but the ability to administer the running of the society. For instance, if you are interested and able to be a graphic designer - creating posters, designing programme formats etc - and, maybe good at running a website including updating on a regular basis to keep it fresh and interesting, we would like to hear from you. If you plan to attend any of the future organ concerts and would like to discuss these roles with committee members, please do approach one of us or contact us by email - click here.

David Hill MBE organist and International Choral Director, Patron of the Alton Organ Society and past President of the Royal College of Organists very kindly recorded a CD on the St Lawrence Church, Alton, organ to celebrate 55 years of the Organ Society existence and to raise funds for the restoration of the Speechly organ. The music was recorded by Herald AV Publications, a specialist recording company, in October 2022. The CD was launched at St Lawrence Church, Alton on Tuesday 4 October 2022. The CD costs £15 of which £3.00 of the purchase price will go towards the organ restoration fund. David's CD was reviewed by Choir & Organ Magazine and copies of that review and Graeme Kay's article on the Society can be seen here. The CD can be purchased from members of the Society Committee, from Resurrection Furniture in Alton and at the Society's Organ Concerts. For further details and purchase of a CD do use the contact page here.

There is an excellent website that lists national organ concerts (including those held in Alton) and can be viewed here. Please list altonorgansociety.co.uk & Organ Recitals Nationwide among your favourites.