Charles Harrison is Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral, where he directs the choir of boys and men, which (before the pandemic) sang eight services each week, broadcast frequently on national radio and made regular tours abroad.
Charles was organ scholar of Jesus College in the University of Cambridge, where he took a degree in music, and studied organ with the late David Sanger. During his second year at Cambridge, Charles won prizes for his performance in the Fellowship examinations of the Royal College of Organists. He went on to win prizes in the international organ competitions at St Albans and Odense; these successes have led to a busy programme of engagements, including concerts at many of the celebrated venues in Britain, and solo performances in France, Denmark, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, USA, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Iceland and Poland. Concerto work has included performances with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra, both broadcast by the BBC. In 2006, he was invited by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to join them for a recording and broadcast of works by Florent Schmitt.
As accompanist and continuo player, Charles has worked with many leading soloists, conductors and ensembles, including Roy Goodman, Steven Isserlis, Stephen Cleobury, the BBC Singers and Andreas Scholl. In 2010, he appeared with the Ulster Orchestra at the BBC Proms, playing the mighty organ of the Royal Albert Hall. With David Leigh, Charles released a disc of music for organ duet, recorded at Lincoln Cathedral, and distributed by Guild Records.
The Programme:
J. S. Bach (1685‒1750): Prelude and Fugue in B minor (BWV 544)
Eugène Gigout (1844–1925): Minuetto (10 pièces, no 2)
Edward Elgar (1857–1934): Andante (from Sonata for Organ)
Vincent D’Indy (1851–1931): Prelude in E-flat minor
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921): Fantaisie in E-flat
We are delighted to welcome back an audience to Chichester Cathedral. However please note these important points:
This lunchtime concert will be a little different to before! You cannot simply turn up on the day. Your place must be booked in advance via TicketSource, to ensure we are able to support NHS Test and Trace and of course to manage overall numbers in the Cathedral, in light of ongoing Covid concerns. We want to do our utmost to make sure this concert is safe as well as enjoyable for you.
For this concert, the audience will be seated both in the Nave and the Quire. If you have a preference, please arrive in good time as no specific seats will be reserved in advance. (Those seated in the Nave will have the benefit of a screen, showing the organists hands as he plays. Those in the Quire will have a slightly better audio experience.)
The concerts remain free at present. We do however ask for donations to help us to continue running the series. As we are unable to accept cash, we would request your donations are made either by using the QR code printed on your programme on the day, or by visiting https://www.chichestercathedral.org.uk/support-us/donations or by using one of the paypoints around the Cathedral.
Finally, if you're unable to visit in person, a recording of the concert will be available to watch for a week from lunchtime the day after the concert (Tuesday 15 June):
Thank you for your ongoing support.